The project is geographically located in the waters around Aalborg Municipality. Aalborg Municipality is connected to a larger project, "Coastal Helper – Giving the Sea a Hand", which runs through 2025.

The establishment of stone reefs in Aalborg Municipality and three other municipalities is intended to function as demonstration projects, where experiences from all aspects - ranging from permit applications, volunteer involvement, and construction solutions, to monitoring of effects - are gathered to create a comprehensive manual for new marine projects. At the same time, the Coastal Helper Project provides resources to engage recreational fishers and others in the stone reef project and allow volunteers to contribute to marine habitat restoration.

The integration of Aalborg Municipality's funding for the establishment of small stone reefs and the Coastal Helper Project thus provides the opportunity to both establish a number of small stone reefs, gather knowledge, share information about the process, and actively involve local citizens in the project.

Limfjordssekretariatet has organized several meetings with the interested volunteer coastal helpers regarding a collaboration. This has specifically resulted in some coastal helpers taking on the responsibility as 'project owners' for selected project areas. Coastal helpers have chosen to proceed with a total of four project areas in the Limfjord, while Aalborg Municipality has decided to explore the possibility of establishing two stone reefs, as shown in the table below.

The map below shows the four project areas selected by the volunteer coastal helpers (green labels) and the two project areas selected by Aalborg Municipality (blue labels).

Limfjordssekretariatet has assisted in developing project descriptions for the four coastal helper groups and has created project descriptions for the two projects where Aalborg Municipality is the project owner. The six project descriptions were submitted for regulatory review to the Coastal Directorate in August-September. A review period of 4-6 months is expected.

While the Coastal Directorate reviews the project applications, the coastal helpers and Limfjordssekretariatet now need to explore how to address some of the practical aspects, particularly financing. 

The aim of the project is to improve the environmental condition of the coastal waters in Aalborg Municipality, including increasing biodiversity.

The project will provide passionate volunteers with the opportunity to engage in efforts to improve environmental conditions in the coastal waters.

The project contributes to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals 14 – Life Below Water, and 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.

Limfjordssekretariatet is the project manager for the initiative in Aalborg Municipality and has successfully leveraged funds by partnering with the Danish Association for Sport Fishing's project "Coastal Helpers – Giving the Sea a Hand," supported by the Velux Foundation.

The placement of stones will promote marine biodiversity through a richer fauna and benthic vegetation in the Limfjord. Macroalgae and mussels struggle to grow on sandy substrates but can attach to the hard surfaces of the stones, allowing seaweed forests and mussel beds to establish on the stone reefs.

Macroalgae will improve living conditions for fauna in general, and particularly for fish fry, by providing hiding spots. At the same time, scattered stones will serve as important habitats for crustaceans, such as the European lobster, which has a limited distribution in areas without large stones.

The text is written by Klavs Bavnshøj Frederiksen, Project Manager at Limfjordsrådet.

@ Klavs.frederiksen@aalborg.dk

# +45 2520 2167