Sejerø Bay, Denmark, once teeming with fish, seals and even tuna, is about to get a second chance. WWF Denmark and a group of partners have launched one of the most significant marine restoration projects in the country’s history.
Over the next five years, stones, seagrass, mussels, and half a million young cod will be used to rebuild the bay’s fragile ecosystem.
For decades, heavy stone fishing, bottom trawling, and nutrient runoff from farmland have stripped the bay of its natural richness. However, with a grant of 33 million kroner (€4.4 million) from the Endangered Landscapes & Seascape Programme, the so-called Sejerø Seascape project now aims to bring life back to the 80,000-hectare area.
Restoring Nature Beneath the Waves
The plan is ambitious: plant underwater meadows of seagrass, create up to six hectares of mussel banks, and rebuild 6,000 cubic meters of stone reefs. At the same time, 500,000 cod will be released into the bay, giving a much-needed boost to dwindling fish populations.
“It is not long ago that Sejerø Bay was bursting with life. We want to bring that back for the benefit of nature and local communities,” said Mikkel Aarø-Hansen, WWF Denmark’s secretary general.
Both Odsherred and Kalundborg municipalities, which border the bay, strongly support the project. Odsherred’s mayor, Karina Vincentz, called the initiative “a fantastic step for biodiversity and future generations,” while Kalundborg’s mayor, Martin Damm, highlighted its importance for local tourism and outdoor activities.
Science and Community Hand in Hand
Researchers from DTU Aqua, the University of Southern Denmark, and Aarhus University are deeply involved, ensuring the project is guided by sound scientific principles. According to Line Gylling, head of Danish nature at WWF, the project will also serve as a model for large-scale marine restoration elsewhere in Europe.
The project also has a strong community angle. Local fishermen, organisations, and citizens are expected to take part in workshops and information meetings. WWF stresses that cooperation between science, politics, and local people is key if Denmark is to meet its international goal of restoring nature by 2030.
If successful, Sejerø Bay could once again be home to thriving fish stocks, healthy reefs, and green seagrass meadows – and maybe, one day, even seals and tuna will return to its waters.