The BioReef project - take a look inside the new hatchery

In relation to the official announcement of the BioReef project, a joint marine restauration project carried out by Ørsted and WWF in close collaboration with DTU Aqua as scientific partner, the partnership has produced a video that goes inside DTU Aqua's state-of-the-art hatchery at the DTU location at Nykøbing Mors.

Watch the video from inside the DTU Aqua hatchery and presenting project partners telling about the BioReef project 

DTU Aqua’s large-scale hatchery and experimental nursery for initial grow-out in northern Denmark was established in autumn 2021 and plays a crucial role in the research and development part that DTU Aqua is conducting in relation to the BioReef project.

BioReef aims to establish one or more biogenic reefs of European flat oysters and horse mussels in Danish waters. The project is part of the global partnership between Ørsted and WWF to advance offshore wind with a net-positive impact on the ocean. According to the partnership, having a net-positive biodiversity impact means making a measurable contribution that improves biodiversity overall and leaves nature in better shape than before - this means not just minimising and mitigating unavoidable impacts but going even further to enhance biodiversity and restore ecosystems that are already under threat from climate change and biodiversity loss.

Recovery of once common biogenic reefs

During the video visit to the hatchery, you will meet Senior Researcher Camille Saurel who is in charge of collecting and breeding the horse mussels and European flat oysters needed for developing methods and finally reestablishing biogenic reefs in the ocean. A task that requires intensive care and involves a good deal of bottles with water where microalgea is grown.

The BioReef project aims to promote the recovery of these once common biogenic reefs of European flat oysters and horse mussels in the wild waters of the Danish North Sea to support healthy marine ecosystems. In Danish waters, biogenic reefs are created by bivalves such as mussels or oysters. These species can form biogenic reefs consisting of living animals and empty shells from bivalves.

"Det er første gang, man forsøger at etablere biogene rev med hestemuslinger i stor skala i Nordsøen. Der skal produceres levedygtige hestemuslingeyngel af en vis størrelse for at nå den kritiske masse, der er nødvendig for at realisere projektet. DTU Aqua har indgående viden og erfaring inden for både klækkeri og distribution af bl.a. muslinger og østers i indre danske farvande, hvilket er afgørende for at kunne etablere det biogene rev i BioReef-projektet," Pernille Nielsen, projektleder og seniorforsker på Sektion for Kystøkologi hos DTU Aqua.

Protocols to implement elsewhere

The work with breeding horse mussels and European flat oysters in the hatchery will lead to protocols that can be implemented elsewhere to produce seed for similar marine restoration efforts.

In addition to finding new innovative methods for the establishment of reefs, the BioReef project will not only lead to restoration of biogenic reefs, but also to peer-reviewed scientific papers, protocols, and methods that can be applied in restoration projects around the world.

The solutions delivered through the BioReef project will according to the partnership support both Ørsted’s ambition that all renewable energy projects it commissions from 2030 onwards should deliver a net-positive biodiversity impact and WWF’s clear call to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. 

Photo: PR photo the BioReef partnership