Isla Bonita – Bornholm at the heart of major European marine restoration project

DTU Aqua will establish 40 fish nurseries and restore spawning grounds for perch and pike at Bornholm over the next five years as part of a new EU-funded initiative spanning nine island communities from the Arctic to the Mediterranean.

Friday 09 October 2026

Anne Trap-Lind

Bornholm is Denmark’s focal point in the new European ecosystem restoration project Isla Bonita. The island is one of nine island communities across Europe that have joined forces to protect and restore marine and freshwater ecosystems, from the Mediterranean to the Arctic, and from the Baltic Sea to the North Sea.

For researchers at DTU Aqua, the project offers a great opportunity to test how local restoration initiatives can strengthen fish populations in coastal waters while contributing to a broader European effort to reverse biodiversity loss and improve the health of aquatic ecosystems.

DTU Aqua’s role on Bornholm will be to establish 40 biohuts, or fish nurseries, in the harbours of Rønne and Hasle, restore spawning grounds for perch and pike and establish an advanced monitoring system for coastal and marine areas.

The ambition is to increase the number of juvenile fish around the biohuts by 30 per cent and achieve a 20 per cent increase in the recruitment of perch and pike to the marine environment over the project’s five-year duration.

Different approaches to marine and freshwater restoration
The project comes at a time when many island ecosystems across Europe are under pressure from climate change, habitat degradation, pollution and biodiversity loss.

Coastal communities are increasingly looking for nature-based solutions that can restore ecosystem functions while supporting local economies and livelihoods.

Launched officially in September 2026, Isla Bonita is funded with €16.2 million through the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme and its Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”.

The project brings together 51 organisations from 16 countries and is coordinated by the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN).

Sammen skal partnerne skabe bedre vilkår for unge fisk i sårbare livsstadier ved at forbedre deres overlevelse og vækst, genoprette vigtige gydeområder og overvåge havmiljøet ved hjælp af avanceret teknologi og autonome løsninger.

Across the nine participating islands, partners will test different approaches to marine and freshwater restoration. While Bornholm focuses on strengthening fish habitats, other demonstrations range from restoring oyster reefs in Orkney and coastal wetlands on Gotland to reducing plastic pollution in Santorini and developing sustainable aquaculture solutions in the Canary Islands.

Support of Living Labs for the Island communities

A central idea behind the project is that island communities are particularly well suited to pioneer solutions that can later be replicated elsewhere. Each island will establish a so-called Living Lab, bringing together local authorities, businesses, researchers, fishers and citizens to shape restoration efforts and develop long-term plans for healthier seas and waters.

According to the project coordinator at PLOCAN, the long-term ambition extends far beyond the individual demonstrations.

“The long-term goal and impact of Isla Bonita is to help solve Europe’s ocean problems and achieve the Mission Ocean 2030 goals, by reducing marine pollution and restoring marine biodiversity, while strengthening Europe’s blue economy,” Gordon Dalton, project coordinator, said at the project launch in La Palma.

On Bornholm, the work will be carried out in collaboration with the Regional Municipality of Bornholm, the Port of Rønne, Ivandet and the marine technology company SENSEMAKERS.

Together, they will help create conditions that improve survival and growth for young fish during vulnerable life stages, while also restoring important spawning habitats and monitoring the region with advanced technology and autonomous solutions.

Researchers Jon C. Svendsen and Patrizio Mariani from DTU Aqua are coordinating the Bornholm demonstration case, while Einar Nielsen will contribute with eDNA monitoring activities across several Islands in the project. The Observation Technology group at DTU Aqua will also support coastal digitalization across several islands, using autonomous vehicles equipped with LiDAR and sonar.

The future goal of Isla Bonita

Beyond the practical restoration measures, the project is designed to leave a lasting legacy. The partners will develop roadmaps and financing plans for both participating and replication islands, while monitoring data and lessons learned will be shared openly to support future marine restoration initiatives across Europe. The project aims for its restoration toolbox to be used by at least 18 islands by 2030.

With planning now underway, the first months will focus on establishing local Living Labs, collecting baseline environmental data and securing permits before restoration activities begin in the field.

Facts about the Isla Bonita-project and the Danish project at Bornholm

Five-year project running from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2031.
Funded with €16.2 million through Horizon Europe’s Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”.
Coordinated by PLOCAN and involving 51 organisations from 16 countries.
Nine demonstration islands across the Atlantic-Arctic, Mediterranean, and Baltic and North Sea basins.
On Bornholm, DTU Aqua will establish 40 biohut fish nurseries in the ports of Rønne and Hasle, restore spawning grounds for perch and pike and monitor the coastal zone with autonomous systems.
DTU Aqua’s target: 30% more juvenile fish around the biohuts and 20% increased recruitment of perch and pike to the marine environment.
Follow the project at Bornholm at the organization Ivandet’s homepage that will be up and running in a short while: www.ivandet.dk/islabonita

Contact

Patrizio Mariani Professor National Institute of Aquatic Resources Phone: +45 35883353 pat@aqua.dtu.dk

Jon Christian Svendsen Senior Researcher National Institute of Aquatic Resources Mobile: +45 93511663 jos@aqua.dtu.dk