The Great Danish Seagrass Project

The Great Danish Seagrass Project was developed by Ocean Institute and is run in collaboration with scientific partner University of Southern Denmark with support from the Nordea Foundation. It is a three-year project, where every June, Danes are invited to join “Denmark Plants Seagrass” at one of 30+ planting sites across the country.

Through concrete action, everyone can help focus on the state of the sea and create a common motivation to change the way we as a society use the sea.

The Great Danish Seagrass Project is a unique citizen science project where 200+ volunteers are involved and carry out test plantings yearly and collect data on Denmark's eelgrass population so that both researchers and citizens can follow the condition and recovery of eelgrass over time.

Seagrass grows on the seabed in Danish fjords and along many coasts. Seagrass has a wide range of positive effects for the marine environment. Seagrass increases biodiversity as it is an important habitat and larder for fish and birds, stabilizes the seabed, absorbs nutrients and protects against and protects against erosion by dampening waves along the coast.

But Denmark has lost about 2/3 of its seagrass since 1900. This is due to, among other things, pollution with nutrient pollution, fishing with bottom-dragging gear, ocean warming and construction projects along the along the coast. Therefore, planting seagrass cannot stand alone when it comes to improving the marine environment. Ocean Institute is working to engage a wide range of stakeholders who will act together to reduce the pressure on the ocean and restore the lost Danish marine nature.