Coastal Ecology

The coastal zone is central to Danish culture and outdoor recreation and represents one of Denmark’s most important contributions to global biodiversity.

However, Danish coastal waters are strongly affected by human activities, particularly nutrient run-off from land. As a result, environmental conditions are generally poor, biodiversity is declining, and only a small proportion of coastal waters meet ecological quality objectives. Combined with climate change and growing demands for sustainable food production, this highlights the need for research in coastal ecology.

Understanding how ecosystems respond to environmental pressures, and how they may recover, is essential for effective management. Reducing pressures remain the most important priority, but active nature restoration is recognized as a necessary tool enhancing resilient coastal habitats, e.g., by the EU Nature Restoration Regulation.

Production of marine food in coastal areas can contribute to climate-friendly food production when based on low-trophic species aquaculture (LTA) with mussels and seaweed and sustainable fisheries. Danish coastal waters are ideal for growing low-trophic organisms, and recent political strategies recognize LTA as an important part of future aquaculture production.

The main topics of DTU Aqua’s coastal ecology research include

• sustainable use of coastal-zone resources.
• anthropogenic impact on coastal ecosystems and ways to mitigate these impacts
• biological structure of disturbed coastal ecosystems and their potential recovery trajectories
• status, ecological role, and restoration of marine habitats.

We are at the top European level in our key research topics and have excellent research facilities. These include a state-of-the-art multi-purpose hatchery, a commercial-scale grow-out facility for testing methods for producing mussels, oysters and macroalgae, and several research vessels.

Sub-areas

The research area is divided into four sub-areas:

Low-Trophic Species Aquaculture (LTA)

Our research focuses on developing production technologies for low-trophic species aquaculture (LTA) like algae, mussels, and oysters, which have a very low carbon footprint and minimal environmental impact.

The research includes selective breeding, biosecurity, environmental impact, and upscaling of hatchery-produced organisms for nature restoration, as well as socio-economic impact such as public acceptance and profitability while considering sustainability.

Habitat and nature restoration

Developing resilient ecosystems requires the implementation of active nature restoration measures in addition to passive measures.

Our research focuses on developing effective deployment practices for large-scale restoration under various environmental conditions. In addition, we develop assessment tools, methodologies, and instrumentation related to site selection, habitat and habitat condition mapping, modelling and evaluation of ecosystem impact.

Coastal pressures, impacts and mitigation

We investigate the impacts of anthropogenic pressures on coastal ecosystems, with a particular focus on eutrophication. We develop tools to support management decisions and work with modelling, remote sensing, and mitigation measures, such as eelgrass and mussel beds. We also investigate ecosystem responses to expected reductions in nutrient load.

Furthermore, we study the interactions with climate change and other pressures, including invasive species.

Fisheries and blue biomass

While marine ecosystems need to be protected, coastal waters still offer opportunities for the sustainable use of blue biomass.

We develop tools and methods to assess stocks and impact of fishing on mussels, lobsters, crabs, and starfish with a focus on ecosystem-based fisheries management. In addition, we investigate opportunities for new crustacean species in coastal fisheries and study the environmental impact of mussel and cockle dredging (trawling) to reduce the impact of the fisheries.

The research area Coastal Ecology has a strong tradition of applied research and science-based advice to public authorities.

We develop tools for sustainable resource utilization in the coastal zone, assess the impact of anthropogenic pressures, and provide advice on mitigation measures.

We monitor bivalve stocks and assess the impact of bivalve fisheries for the Danish Ministry of Environment . We also provide advice on the development of low-trophic species aquaculture (LTA).

Through the Centre for Marine Restoration , we play an important role in marine restoration in Danish waters and advise the Danish Environmental Protection Agency on nature restoration under the Marine Nature Fund.

In collaboration with DHI, we support the Danish green transition and coastal water quality management through a unique ecological modelling platform for assessing environmental pressures.

Our research has contributed to innovations such as mussel farming, mitigation farming, and the utilization of starfish, helping to create new industries in Denmark. We currently advance LTA, explore business opportunities based on underutilized blue biomass, and work on producing organisms for large-scale nature restoration.

We are also actively engaged in outreach and science communication activities.

External collaboration

The Danish Centre for Marine Restoration is one of our key partners. The centre brings together Aarhus University, University of Southern Denmark, DTU, and Limfjordsrådet, and provides scientific advice on marine nature restoration.

We also collaborate extensively with DHI , The Ministry of Environment  and other Danish ministries as well as industry partners.

Internationally, we are involved in research projects across the EU and the Nordic countries, and we are a member of the Native Oyster Restoration Alliance

Internal collaboration

Within DTU, we collaborate with DTU Sustain  (Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering), DTU National Food Institute , and DTU Construct  (Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering).

Internally at DTU Aqua, we mainly collaborate with the following research areas:

• Marine Biodiversity and Human Pressures
• Population Genetics
• Population Dynamics and Stock Assessments
• Fish and Shellfish Diseases
• Fisheries Technology
• Aquaculture