Post by DHI

Restoring marine nature is not just about bringing back habitats. It is about restoring the connections that allow ecosystems to function. A new marine restoration project along Denmark's Great Belt coast aims to restore a mosaic of stone reefs, biogenic reefs and eelgrass habitats within a protected Natura 2000 area. Together, these habitats can improve nursery grounds for fish species, including cod, while creating better feeding opportunities for seabirds and marine mammals. DHI colleagues are contributing with hydrodynamic and wave modelling, seabed and biodiversity mapping and restoration design. This helps ensure that restoration measures are based on a detailed understanding of local conditions and can be implemented without unintended impacts such as increased erosion, sediment transport or eelgrass burial. The project also establishes a robust baseline for long-term monitoring, making it possible to document how ecosystem conditions and biodiversity develop over time through DHI’s Biodiversity State Indicator. The project brings together a strong group of Danish partners, combining complementary expertise to restore healthier and more resilient coastal ecosystems. As marine nature restoration gains momentum in Denmark and beyond, projects like this demonstrate the value of combining ecological knowledge with modelling and data to support effective restoration from planning through implementation. The pictures show our colleagues from the field department, surveying the seabed near the Great Belt Bridge. #marinerestoration #biodiversity #Natura2000 #GreatBeltBridge Ole Brodnicke, Ph.D. Kristian Maar Mads Birkeland