News & Stories

In October 2025, together with volunteers and locals, and in collaboration with Lopphavet Marine Protected Area and Arctic Lux, we began restoring a kelp forest in Øksfjord. The second and final phase of the project took place in spring 2026. Now is time to share what we learned along the way.

Øksfjord’s Kelp Forest – Creating Blue Communities was an eight‑month project aimed at spreading knowledge and raising awareness about kelp forests through citizen science and art. After the project concluded in May, our project group has had time to reflect, and in this article we highlight some of the most memorable moments from the spring.

In Northern Norway, kelp forest restoration is sometimes framed as a simple equation: fewer sea urchins means more kelp. However, observations from our restoration sites point to a more complex ecological dynamic, bringing us into relatively unexplored territory.

Kittiwakes bring phosphorus from sea to land through their digestive tract, while urchins are rich in calcium and nitrogen. Can these two species help us boost vegetation growth during the short Arctic summer? Can conservation efforts play a role in strengthening food security? This summer in Tromsø, we will be exploring these questions through an exciting new side project, in collaboration with DYRK and ViNN.

Between April 2024 and May 2026, Rissa Citizen Science organized 23 kelp forest restoration events across three sites, engaging nearly 500 volunteers. These “Kelpers” have contributed both on land and in the sea, carrying out simple citizen science activities and reducing urchin densities to create conditions for seaweeds and kelp to recover. Time to reflect on this journey and share some of the results!

Photographer Ann Cools reports about her experience restoring kelp forests with Rissa Citizen Science in Tromsø.

Just recently, the Urchin Density Challenge rose to a whole new level! With the latest update, counting urchins becomes easier and more rewarding.

Penelope Volinia took the plunge into a kelp restoration event in Tromsø. She now shares her journey through Arctic marine ecosystems, sea urchin ecology, and multispecies encounters—where underwater drones, conservation science, and human perception meet along the Norwegian coast.

On March 11, we are fortunate to welcome Fredrik Broms, a passionate marine biologist and nature photographer. He will introduce us to the fascinating world of nudibranchs at the The Arctic University Museum of Norway. Sign up to secure your seat!

Since January 9th, an outdoor exhibition has been celebrating the work of the Kelpers, these dedicated volunteers restoring kelp forests in Tromsø. Through photographs by Clément Brun, Liga Sirava, and Ann Cools, the exhibition documents the remarkable shift from urchin desert to flourishing kelp forest in the heart of the city.

In the last week of November, Øksfjord had a visit from artist Emma Gunnarsson from Arctic Lux. She and the marine protected area manager Anita Holmgren have brought the kelp forest into the classrooms at Høgtun School and up to the health center through art, pictures and stories.

From now on, anyone — anywhere in the world — can join our mission to restore kelp forests in Tromsø! Download the Rissa Citizen Science app and start counting sea urchins to be part of this growing global citizen science movement!

For two weeks in October, a passionate team of divers and volunteers came together with one mission: to restore a kelp forest along the Øksfjord jetty. We also had the pleasure of engaging with the local school through outreach activities. Before we dive into the next stage, we’d love to share our progress with you!

Using stunning footage captured by documentary filmmaker and cinematographer Ismaele Tortella, Roel Melman shares his experience in Øksfjord, Finnmark, where he joined fellow volunteers to help restore a kelp forest.

This project is an outreach initiative aimed at connecting young people and the local community in Loppa municipality more closely with the sea and its kelp forests. With Sparebankstiftelsen’ support, the Lopphavet Marine Protected Area, Rissa Citizen Science, artist Emma Gunnarsson from Arctic Lux and film director Ismaele Tortella are joining forces to raise awareness about the value of these underwater jungles while working to restore a kelp forest in Øksfjord.

The first time Ann Cools joined a Rissa Citizen Science event was to restore seaweed forests in Tromsø. She was the very first to photograph the restoration site in Telegrafbukta, documenting the urchin barren, before turning her lens to the city center site at Sørsjetéen, where underwater forests have returned thanks to the Kelpers. Meet Ann Cools, one of Rissa Citizen Science’s strongest supporters, and a true source of inspiration for us.

Jacqueline Kärcher, Florentine Schäfermeier and Martha Steinmetz formed the Creative Pack, experiencing Rissa Citizen Science’s work through their artistic lens. They’ve now gathered the material they need, and it will take some time before we see what emerges from their creative minds. In the meantime, the three artists kindly share a glimpse of their story with us.

Together with a team of committed volunteers, we conducted a survey of the site to measure sea urchin density and record the presence of other marine life. This initial assessment will provide valuable insight into the current state of the ecosystem and serve as a baseline for the upcoming restoration work.

On the 10th of May, Rissa Citizen Science teamed up with SUT and Redningselskapet to organize a shore and underwater cleanup between Sørsjetéen and Polaria. This effort was part of the Byryddedagene (City Cleanup Days) and supported by Hold Norge Rent in order to protect the beauty and health of our communities.

Sørsjetéen—a 200-meter jetty in the heart of Tromsø—was once a barren seafloor, overrun by sea urchins. But thanks to the efforts of the “Kelpers,” one side has been brought back to life. Now, it’s a vibrant underwater jungle teeming with marine life. Time to share the results!