Oyster ecosystems are subject to a litany of natural and unnatural perturbations, both of which are increasing in frequency and intensity, leading to more restorative management actions. Oyster restorations often have multiple objectives that may conflict in the short run, particularly in areas where oysters are harvested commercially. For example, setting a goal of increasing oyster abundance maybe difficult to achieve while also attempting to support socioeconomic recovery of coastal communities. Here we assess how restoration success may depend on spatial dynamics of oysters and their fishers, as well as the conditions under which additional fishery regulation may be necessary to achieve optimal outcomes. We developed a spatially explicit, socioecological model of a coastal oyster fishery that includes oyster larval and recruitment dynamics as well as dynamic fishing effort and spatial allocation. We then subjected the simulated population to different types of perturbations and potential restoration responses, with and without additional harvest regulations. What our results reveal is that under some perturbations and patterns of spatial connectivity, restoration actions alone could actually exacerbate population decline if fishing regulations are unchanged. However, limiting fishing effort during restoration certainly affected economic activity likely critical for human communities. We suggest that the most effective oyster restoration may need to be coupled with fishery regulations but also human community aid if the socioecological system function is to be restored.