BioReef
Restoring the Populations of European Flat Oyster and Horse Mussel
The BioReef project aims to develop methods and protocols for restoring populations of European flat oysters (Ostrea edulis) and horse mussels (Modiolus modiolus) in the Danish part of the North Sea or the Kattegat.
Foto: Graham Saunders © Marine Scotland. All rights reserved
- Develop upscaled production of hatchery produced disease-free European flat oyster spats
- Develop innovative and novel hatchery methods for horse mussel seed production
- Develop methods for successful on bottom deployment on selected site(s)
The two bivalve species have historically been abundant in the North Sea and the Kattegat, but populations have been reduced significantly over the decades due to disturbances from human activities. Restoring populations of European flat oyster and horse mussel bring back important lost ecosystem functions and services to the marine ecosystem.
The strategy of the BioReef project to a successful repopulation of European flat oyster and horse mussel reefs in the Danish part of the North Sea or the Kattegat is to select suitable sites for restoration and develop successful up-scaled seed production and deployment methods to establish biogenic reefs:
The BioReef project is the pioneering project of repopulating European flat oyster and horse mussel beds in Denmark.
The project is an essential part of a new global partnership between Ørsted and WWF to unite action on climate and ocean biodiversity, which, in collaboration with researchers from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU Aqua), will lead the establishment of one or more sustainable biogenic reefs of European flat oyster and horse mussel seeds in Danish waters.
The BioReef is a five-year project, starting November 2022, and is funded by Ørsted.
Nicolai Kvist Krøigaard Sorner, Senior Project Manager, Conservation Department at WWF
Henrike Semmler Lé, PhD, Senior Specialist, Oceans & Fisheries at WWF
Pernille Nielsen, Senior Researcher and Project Manager at DTU Aqua
Jens Kjerulf Petersen, Professor and Section Manager at DTU Aqua
Read more about the project:
WWF: https://wwf.dk/wwf-partnere/strategiske-partnerskaber/orsted/bioreef/