top of page

Rissa homepage_edited.jpg

What does
Rissa mean?

Join the growing community of nature advocates in Northern Norway

RISSA Citizen Science

Participate in hands-on projects

Together, we protect endangered species, restore fragile habitats, and raise awareness and empathy for nature.

Survey the endangered kittiwake in Tromsø

Goal: Encourage coexistence with the endangered kittiwake [Rissa] in Tromsø.

Clément Brun_Kelp.jpg

Restore kelp forests around Tromsø

Goal: Turn urchin barrens into underwater jungles where marine life can thrive.

Rissa Citizen Science_Senja

Restore nature & map wildlife in Ånderdalen National Park, Senja

Goal: Support Ånderdalen National Park's conservation efforts.

See all projects

Rissa Citizen Science_events.jpg

Join and meet volunteers at upcoming events

Sign up for events

1 day to the event
Telegrafbukta: restore a kelp forest with the Kelpers!

07 Jun 2026, 11:30 – 15:30
Telegrafbukta, Kvaløyvegen 30, 9013 Tromsø, Norway
Kelp restoration is underway thanks to you all! Join, and contribute from land or in the sea. There will be waffles, coffee, tea and hot choc for everyone :)
2 days to the event
Planting wild plants around the kittiwake hotels

08 Jun 2026, 13:30 – 16:00
Muséparken, Strandvegen 5, 9007 Tromsø, Norway
Plant wild plants around the kittiwake hotels in Muséparken. This is event is part of the ViNN project.
5 days to the event
E-bike kittiwake survey in Tromsø city center

11 Jun 2026, 15:00 – 16:30
Tromsø Outdoor, Fredrik Langes gate 14, 9008 Tromsø, Norway
Jump on Tromsø Outdoor's e-bike, and let's ride around Tromsø city center to survey kittiwakes' breeding activity.

Sign up for events

Updated log

9

150

3239

Projects

Events

Participations

News & Stories

A volunteer of A Helping Hand with Rissa Citizen Science in Ånderdalen National Park

A volunteer of A Helping Hand with Rissa Citizen Science in Ånderdalen National Park

Helping Hand 2026: the program!

52% of last year’s nests destroyed: buildings in Tromsø city center are becoming kittiwake-proof.

52% of last year’s nests destroyed: buildings in Tromsø city center are becoming kittiwake-proof.

52% of last year’s nests destroyed: buildings in Tromsø city center are becoming kittiwake-proof.

a gull is trapped in a net behind Traasdhal in Tromsø

a gull is trapped in a net behind Traasdhal in Tromsø

The net that keeps trapping birds in Skattøra.

polar bear on display in Tromsø

polar bear on display in Tromsø

Polar bears in Tromsø: the controversy under everyone’s eyes.

👉 new article on Rissa’s blog (link in bio)

52% of last year’s nests destroyed: buildings in Tromsø city center are becoming kittiwake-proof.

Despite the kittiwake’s alarming conservation status in Norway, the destruction of nests has continued this year in Tromsø. Since the previous breeding season, out of the 178 kittiwake nests mapped in 2025 by the Kittiwalkers in Tromsø city center, 93 have been destroyed or made inaccessible (52% loss).

At the same time, new kittiwake hotels have been deployed across the city to support this endangered species. The question remains whether these efforts can offset the ongoing push to keep kittiwakes away from buildings.

👉 Read the full story on Rissa’s blog.

First photo: @danieljohnbenton
Others @rissa_citizen_science

#kittiwake #tromso @dyrsrettigheter @birdlife_ung_tromso @fuglevern @birdlifeung

👉 new article on Rissa’s blog (link in bio)

52% of last year’s nests destroyed: buildings in Tromsø city center are becoming kittiwake-proof.

Despite the kittiwake’s alarming conservation status in Norway, the destruction of nests has continued this year in Tromsø. Since the previous breeding season, out of the 178 kittiwake nests mapped in 2025 by the Kittiwalkers in Tromsø city center, 93 have been destroyed or made inaccessible (52% loss).

At the same time, new kittiwake hotels have been deployed across the city to support this endangered species. The question remains whether these efforts can offset the ongoing push to keep kittiwakes away from buildings.

👉 Read the full story on Rissa’s blog.

First photo: @danieljohnbenton
Others @rissa_citizen_science

#kittiwake #tromso @dyrsrettigheter @birdlife_ung_tromso @fuglevern @birdlifeung

👉 New article in Rissa’s website! (Link in bio)

☠️ Behind Traasdhal, a net was recenlty installed onto a cliff used as a breeding site by several species of seabirds. However, the net is not properly sealed against the cliff and the mesh is too large, resulting in gulls repeatedly becoming trapped.

👀 The Kittiwalkers patrol this site to monitor the kittiwake nests almost every day, and it is during these routine checks that birds are found. So far this year, five birds were found in the deadly net.

👉 Read the full story on Rissa’s blog (link in bio)

#kittiwake #tromsø @urbanekrykkjer @rissa.opalus #seabirdconservation

👉 New article in Rissa’s website! (Link in bio)

☠️ Behind Traasdhal, a net was recenlty installed onto a cliff used as a breeding site by several species of seabirds. However, the net is not properly sealed against the cliff and the mesh is too large, resulting in gulls repeatedly becoming trapped.

👀 The Kittiwalkers patrol this site to monitor the kittiwake nests almost every day, and it is during these routine checks that birds are found. So far this year, five birds were found in the deadly net.

👉 Read the full story on Rissa’s blog (link in bio)

#kittiwake #tromsø @urbanekrykkjer @rissa.opalus #seabirdconservation

New article on Rissa’s BLOG! (Link in bio)

If hunting polar bears has been illegal for decades, how do these animals end up as a marketing attraction in Tromsø’s souvenirs shops? Where do the bears come from? Who killed them, who sold them, and to whom? And how much was paid to acquire body parts of this threatened species?

👉 read the article in Rissa’s BLOG

📸 photos @rikkestoevring and @rissa_citizen_science

#polarbearconservation @tradesecretfilm @ismaeletortella @samullobet

New article on Rissa’s BLOG! (Link in bio)

If hunting polar bears has been illegal for decades, how do these animals end up as a marketing attraction in Tromsø’s souvenirs shops? Where do the bears come from? Who killed them, who sold them, and to whom? And how much was paid to acquire body parts of this threatened species?

👉 read the article in Rissa’s BLOG

📸 photos @rikkestoevring and @rissa_citizen_science

#polarbearconservation @tradesecretfilm @ismaeletortella @samullobet

✊ Nature is resilient. Give it a break and it recovers fast!
In October 2025, volunteers removed over 30,000 sea urchins along the jetty in Øksfjord.
In spring 2026, the restoration site was already covered with a thick layer of seaweed.

Mermaid’s tresses : Chorda filum (åletang)
Wing kelp: Alaric esculanta (butare)
Tangle: Laminaria hyperborea (stortare)

Overfishing has been the main cause for the disappearance of kelp forests in Northern Norway since the 1970s. Without enough predators, sea urchins become super abundant and overgraze their own habitat. The ocean needs more fish and more fishes.

🤝 This project is a collaboration between Lopphavet Marine Verneområde, Rissa Citizen Science and Arctic Lux @arctic_lux

💰It was funded in part by @sparebankstiftelsensnn and @rafisklaget with additional contribution from Rissa Citizen Science and Lopphavet Marine Verneområde.
The funding has now run out, and we are exploring opportunities to continue this community-driven kelp restoration work.

🙏 Støa and Loppakroa kafe @finnmarksalpene.loppakroa facilitated the events and helped us connect with the local community.
🙏 The volunteers were hosted at the Høgtun skole, we are very grateful for all the support we received.

❤️ Volunteers joined one weekend in October, and one weekend in April.

📸 cover photo and some footage from Ismaele’s Tortella @ismaeletortella His contribution to the project was key. Photographer Ann Cools joined the last trip to Øksfjord to document the changes, and we are immensely grateful to her @anncoolsphotography

#citizenscience #kelpforest @kelpforestalliance @kelpforestfoundation @arctic_lux

✊ Nature is resilient. Give it a break and it recovers fast!
In October 2025, volunteers removed over 30,000 sea urchins along the jetty in Øksfjord.
In spring 2026, the restoration site was already covered with a thick layer of seaweed.

Mermaid’s tresses : Chorda filum (åletang)
Wing kelp: Alaric esculanta (butare)
Tangle: Laminaria hyperborea (stortare)

Overfishing has been the main cause for the disappearance of kelp forests in Northern Norway since the 1970s. Without enough predators, sea urchins become super abundant and overgraze their own habitat. The ocean needs more fish and more fishes.

🤝 This project is a collaboration between Lopphavet Marine Verneområde, Rissa Citizen Science and Arctic Lux @arctic_lux

💰It was funded in part by @sparebankstiftelsensnn and @rafisklaget with additional contribution from Rissa Citizen Science and Lopphavet Marine Verneområde.
The funding has now run out, and we are exploring opportunities to continue this community-driven kelp restoration work.

🙏 Støa and Loppakroa kafe @finnmarksalpene.loppakroa facilitated the events and helped us connect with the local community.
🙏 The volunteers were hosted at the Høgtun skole, we are very grateful for all the support we received.

❤️ Volunteers joined one weekend in October, and one weekend in April.

📸 cover photo and some footage from Ismaele’s Tortella @ismaeletortella His contribution to the project was key. Photographer Ann Cools joined the last trip to Øksfjord to document the changes, and we are immensely grateful to her @anncoolsphotography

#citizenscience #kelpforest @kelpforestalliance @kelpforestfoundation @arctic_lux

🎉 The Urchin Density Challenge gets a fresh upgrade!

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

👉 Check out the latest article on Rissa’s website/BLOG (link in bio)

The Urchin Density Challenge makes it possible for those who can’t physically join our kelp restoration events to still contribute to the effort. How? Very simple! By counting sea urchins inside a 50/50 cm frame. These counts help track the changes in urchin density inside and outside the restoration sites: a very important step to document the effects of the restoration.

🧠 Many thanks and our full gratitude to Philip Redecker, the brain behind Rissa’s app!

🤝 The Urchin Density Challenge was supported by the Ocean Green project @oceangreenofficial

🤝 The Arctic University and Arctic University Museum of Norway are collaborating with Rissa CS on the Telegrafbukta site and using data from the Urchin Density Challenge, and facilitating the events with volunteers.

📸 photos by @anncoolsphotography and @ismaeletortella ❤️❤️

#urchin #kelpforest @kelpforestalliance @kelpforestfoundation #kelprestoration

🎉 The Urchin Density Challenge gets a fresh upgrade!

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

👉 Check out the latest article on Rissa’s website/BLOG (link in bio)

The Urchin Density Challenge makes it possible for those who can’t physically join our kelp restoration events to still contribute to the effort. How? Very simple! By counting sea urchins inside a 50/50 cm frame. These counts help track the changes in urchin density inside and outside the restoration sites: a very important step to document the effects of the restoration.

🧠 Many thanks and our full gratitude to Philip Redecker, the brain behind Rissa’s app!

🤝 The Urchin Density Challenge was supported by the Ocean Green project @oceangreenofficial

🤝 The Arctic University and Arctic University Museum of Norway are collaborating with Rissa CS on the Telegrafbukta site and using data from the Urchin Density Challenge, and facilitating the events with volunteers.

📸 photos by @anncoolsphotography and @ismaeletortella ❤️❤️

#urchin #kelpforest @kelpforestalliance @kelpforestfoundation #kelprestoration

🔥 If you skip this one – you’re missing out on something big!

🌿 Imagine this:You wake up on Senja. Fresh air. Mountains. Silence.
And you know you’re actually making a difference 💚

✊ Join A Helping Hand 2026 ✊

🏔️ Restore nature around Ånderdalen National Park and the area around Fjordgård
🌊 Experience Hesten & Segla
🤝 Meet people from all over the world and locals
🔥 Participate in a social evening with locals

✨ No experience required
✨ Only motivation

📅 Last week of July 2026
💰 NOK 1500 (all included)

👉 Do you want to join?
Link in bio 🔗

A Helping Hand to Senja is a collaboration between Rissa Citizen Science, the Ånderdalen National Park Board, Senja Kommune and Visit Senja Region.
@anderdalennasjonalpark
@senja.kommune
@visitsenjaregion

🤝 Tromsø Outdoor @tromsooutdoor is supporting A Helping Hand, as a more engaged and regenerative form of tourism. They help us spread the word during the recruiting phase.

#travelwithpurpose #workaway #ecotravel #senja explorenorwaor

🔥 If you skip this one – you’re missing out on something big!

🌿 Imagine this:You wake up on Senja. Fresh air. Mountains. Silence.
And you know you’re actually making a difference 💚

✊ Join A Helping Hand 2026 ✊

🏔️ Restore nature around Ånderdalen National Park and the area around Fjordgård
🌊 Experience Hesten & Segla
🤝 Meet people from all over the world and locals
🔥 Participate in a social evening with locals

✨ No experience required
✨ Only motivation

📅 Last week of July 2026
💰 NOK 1500 (all included)

👉 Do you want to join?
Link in bio 🔗

A Helping Hand to Senja is a collaboration between Rissa Citizen Science, the Ånderdalen National Park Board, Senja Kommune and Visit Senja Region.
@anderdalennasjonalpark
@senja.kommune
@visitsenjaregion

🤝 Tromsø Outdoor @tromsooutdoor is supporting A Helping Hand, as a more engaged and regenerative form of tourism. They help us spread the word during the recruiting phase.

#travelwithpurpose #workaway #ecotravel #senja explorenorwaor

Adopt a kittiwake & support the conservation of this endangered species in Tromsø!

Until now, only people in Tromsø could take an active role in protecting the endangered kittiwake. From now on, anyone, anywhere in the world, can support this community effort by adopting a kittiwake nest or a rescued chick.

You can adopt:
🪺 a nest
🐥 a rescued chick

🔗 Follow the link (in bio) to the article that explains everything. If you still have questions, reach out to us here or by email. We are usually quick to reply!

☀️ Some background ☀️
The black-legged kittiwake is a species of seabird, and it is endangered (EN) on Norway’s Red List.

In 2014, scientists warned that Norwegian kittiwake colonies could disappear sometime between 2024 and 2062 (Sandvik et al. 2014). The situation has not improved since 2014, and the kittiwake is more threatened than ever.

Some of the surviving kittiwakes find refuge in cities, like in Tromsø. But coexistence is not easy…

Visit Rissa’s website for more information. Check the BLOG for exciting stories.

🙏 The Hurtigruten Foundation is supporting Rissa Citizen Science conservation work with the kittiwakes in Tromsø. @focusnordic is supporting our effort by helping us acquire high-quality binoculars that the Kittiwalkers can borrow.

#citizenscience #kittiwake #birdconservation #tromsø #coexistence

Adopt a kittiwake & support the conservation of this endangered species in Tromsø!

Until now, only people in Tromsø could take an active role in protecting the endangered kittiwake. From now on, anyone, anywhere in the world, can support this community effort by adopting a kittiwake nest or a rescued chick.

You can adopt:
🪺 a nest
🐥 a rescued chick

🔗 Follow the link (in bio) to the article that explains everything. If you still have questions, reach out to us here or by email. We are usually quick to reply!

☀️ Some background ☀️
The black-legged kittiwake is a species of seabird, and it is endangered (EN) on Norway’s Red List.

In 2014, scientists warned that Norwegian kittiwake colonies could disappear sometime between 2024 and 2062 (Sandvik et al. 2014). The situation has not improved since 2014, and the kittiwake is more threatened than ever.

Some of the surviving kittiwakes find refuge in cities, like in Tromsø. But coexistence is not easy…

Visit Rissa’s website for more information. Check the BLOG for exciting stories.

🙏 The Hurtigruten Foundation is supporting Rissa Citizen Science conservation work with the kittiwakes in Tromsø. @focusnordic is supporting our effort by helping us acquire high-quality binoculars that the Kittiwalkers can borrow.

#citizenscience #kittiwake #birdconservation #tromsø #coexistence

The black-legged kittiwake is listed as endangered on Norway’s Red List. The population is only 10% of what it was a few decades ago. Some of the survivors find refuge in Tromsø, where they nest on buildings.

The Kittiwalkers monitor the nests in the city, and advocate for coexistence.

🙌 Join the first outdoor workshop of this season on Wednesday 22 April from 16:00 to 18:00.
✍️ sign up on Rissa’s website/EVENTS

🤝 This event is organised in collaboration with @birdlife_ung_tromso

🙏 The Hurtigruten Foundation is supporting our effort to engage the public in the protection of the kittiwake in Tromsø. @focusnordic sponsored Rissa CS with binoculars @kiteoptics_nature that the volunteers can borrow.

🤝 The Kittiwalkers are part of a network composed of scientists, architects, artists, residents and travelers engaged in the conservation of the kittiwake in Tromsø.

#kittiwake #citizenscience #tromsø

The black-legged kittiwake is listed as endangered on Norway’s Red List. The population is only 10% of what it was a few decades ago. Some of the survivors find refuge in Tromsø, where they nest on buildings.

The Kittiwalkers monitor the nests in the city, and advocate for coexistence.

🙌 Join the first outdoor workshop of this season on Wednesday 22 April from 16:00 to 18:00.
✍️ sign up on Rissa’s website/EVENTS

🤝 This event is organised in collaboration with @birdlife_ung_tromso

🙏 The Hurtigruten Foundation is supporting our effort to engage the public in the protection of the kittiwake in Tromsø. @focusnordic sponsored Rissa CS with binoculars @kiteoptics_nature that the volunteers can borrow.

🤝 The Kittiwalkers are part of a network composed of scientists, architects, artists, residents and travelers engaged in the conservation of the kittiwake in Tromsø.

#kittiwake #citizenscience #tromsø

We started lowering the density of sea urchins with volunteers in June 2025. At first, nothing happened, and then it was winter, quite dark as Tromsø stands 350 km north of the Arctic Circle.

☀️ But then the sun came back, and we started noticing a change: a thin brown carpet of seaweeds. And then different colors: red, green, brown.

🥳 But what we saw today (Sunday 5 April) is an incredible reward for the «Kelpers». These volunteers have been gathering twice a months for the last 10 months, braving the polar winter.

🛥️ Overfishing since the 1970s in Norway reduced the urchin predators so much that the green sea urchin –a native species here– soon became super dominant and overgrazed kelp forests. In most places, in Northern Norway especially, these underwater jungles have been replaced by biological deserts called urchin barrens.

Rissa’s kelp restoration efforts with volunteers are part of the Ocean Green project, which aims at large-scale restoration of kelp forests.

Our two sites in Tromsø (Sørsjetéen and Telegrafbukta) show that reducing the grazing pressure triggers the return of seaweeds and kelp naturally, and very fast.

🤔 But what if we stop removing urchins? The answer is simple: they invade and overgraze the restored areas.

The populations of urchin predators need to be diverse and abundant again. Before industrial fishing, urchins and kelp forests coexisted.

🤿 Join the next kelp restoration event, sign up on Rissa’s website/EVENTS.

🤝 Ava Ocean leads Ocean Green. NIBIO (@nibio_no) is our direct partner. @nivaforskning and @nivaforskning are the other research partners in the project. Across Nature and Hofseth BioCare are the industrial partners.

🤝 @arktiskmuseum and @uitnorgesarktiske are key collaborators at the Telegrafbukta site.

🤝 @sut_dykk the student diving club facilitates this initiative by providing diving gears to the volunteers.

🙏 @cewe.no sponsored the photo exhibit that is now on display on our forest restoration site in the city center (Sørsjetéen).

#kelpforest #kelpforestrestoration #healthyoceans #seaweed @kelpforestalliance @aaroneger @kelpforestfoundation

We started lowering the density of sea urchins with volunteers in June 2025. At first, nothing happened, and then it was winter, quite dark as Tromsø stands 350 km north of the Arctic Circle.

☀️ But then the sun came back, and we started noticing a change: a thin brown carpet of seaweeds. And then different colors: red, green, brown.

🥳 But what we saw today (Sunday 5 April) is an incredible reward for the «Kelpers». These volunteers have been gathering twice a months for the last 10 months, braving the polar winter.

🛥️ Overfishing since the 1970s in Norway reduced the urchin predators so much that the green sea urchin –a native species here– soon became super dominant and overgrazed kelp forests. In most places, in Northern Norway especially, these underwater jungles have been replaced by biological deserts called urchin barrens.

Rissa’s kelp restoration efforts with volunteers are part of the Ocean Green project, which aims at large-scale restoration of kelp forests.

Our two sites in Tromsø (Sørsjetéen and Telegrafbukta) show that reducing the grazing pressure triggers the return of seaweeds and kelp naturally, and very fast.

🤔 But what if we stop removing urchins? The answer is simple: they invade and overgraze the restored areas.

The populations of urchin predators need to be diverse and abundant again. Before industrial fishing, urchins and kelp forests coexisted.

🤿 Join the next kelp restoration event, sign up on Rissa’s website/EVENTS.

🤝 Ava Ocean leads Ocean Green. NIBIO (@nibio_no) is our direct partner. @nivaforskning and @nivaforskning are the other research partners in the project. Across Nature and Hofseth BioCare are the industrial partners.

🤝 @arktiskmuseum and @uitnorgesarktiske are key collaborators at the Telegrafbukta site.

🤝 @sut_dykk the student diving club facilitates this initiative by providing diving gears to the volunteers.

🙏 @cewe.no sponsored the photo exhibit that is now on display on our forest restoration site in the city center (Sørsjetéen).

#kelpforest #kelpforestrestoration #healthyoceans #seaweed @kelpforestalliance @aaroneger @kelpforestfoundation

👐 A very warm welcome to Rachel Thume, who is doing an internship at Rissa Citizen Science. Rachel has been with us for three weeks now, but already her enthusiasm and dedication have brought a lot to the team!

🤿 Rachel had a very first dive this week, and she absolutely loved it. We suspect that Rachel has fish DNA. We feel very grateful for having her with us.

🙏 Rachel’s curiosity and strong sense of ethics are a real asset for a small nonprofit like Rissa. There is no doubt the learning benefits will be reciprocal, and we are looking forward to the next months!

📸 all photos from @anncoolsphotography 🙏🙏
1 and 3: Rachel’s very first dive at Sørsjetéen
2: Rachel giving a lighting talk at Telegrafbukta during a kelp restoration event
4: Rachel during an urchin scouting trip on Kvaløya

👐 A very warm welcome to Rachel Thume, who is doing an internship at Rissa Citizen Science. Rachel has been with us for three weeks now, but already her enthusiasm and dedication have brought a lot to the team!

🤿 Rachel had a very first dive this week, and she absolutely loved it. We suspect that Rachel has fish DNA. We feel very grateful for having her with us.

🙏 Rachel’s curiosity and strong sense of ethics are a real asset for a small nonprofit like Rissa. There is no doubt the learning benefits will be reciprocal, and we are looking forward to the next months!

📸 all photos from @anncoolsphotography 🙏🙏
1 and 3: Rachel’s very first dive at Sørsjetéen
2: Rachel giving a lighting talk at Telegrafbukta during a kelp restoration event
4: Rachel during an urchin scouting trip on Kvaløya

In October 2025, volunteers started restoring kelp forest in Øksfjord. We are returning at a critical time, as kelp starts growing back.

💝Accomodation (and dinner on Saturday) are offered to all the volunteers.

🤝 Lopphavet Marine Verneområdet, Arctic Lux and Rissa Citizen Science are partnering for this outreach & kelp forest restoration project.

✍️ More info & signup on Rissa Citizen Science website/events

🙏 @sparebankstiftelsensnn and @rafisklaget are supporting this initiative

#kelpforests #kelpforestrestoration #citizenscience @loppakommune @sparebankstiftelsensnn @kelpforestalliance @kelpforestfoundation @rafisklaget @arctic_lux

In October 2025, volunteers started restoring kelp forest in Øksfjord. We are returning at a critical time, as kelp starts growing back.

💝Accomodation (and dinner on Saturday) are offered to all the volunteers.

🤝 Lopphavet Marine Verneområdet, Arctic Lux and Rissa Citizen Science are partnering for this outreach & kelp forest restoration project.

✍️ More info & signup on Rissa Citizen Science website/events

🙏 @sparebankstiftelsensnn and @rafisklaget are supporting this initiative

#kelpforests #kelpforestrestoration #citizenscience @loppakommune @sparebankstiftelsensnn @kelpforestalliance @kelpforestfoundation @rafisklaget @arctic_lux

🤩 Sea urchins are indeed amazing 🤩

In Norway, the green sea urchin (on the video) is a native species that has become invasive since the 1970s as a result of overfishing its natural predators.

Once overabundant, urchins overgraze their habitat, turning kelp forests into biological deserts, the « urchin barrens ».

To restore kelp forests, volunteers led by Rissa Citizen Science lower the density of urchins on three sites in Tromsø and Øksfjord.

These volunteers –the Kelpers– keep track of how many urchins they collect or crush while diving. They passed 57,000 urchins since 2023.

Kelp forests grow back naturally after the urchin density is brought down. But of course, maintaining kelp forests requires a constant effort. On the long term, the fish populations must be restored to pre-industrial fishing levels, so that predators keep urchins under control. Sea urchins play a very important role in healthy marine ecosystems.

👉 Join the next kelp restoration event in Tromsø or Øksfjord (go to Rissa’s website/EVENTS).

🤝 Our kelp forest restoration efforts with volunteers is part of the Ocean Green project @oceangreenofficial , led by Ava Ocean, with @nibio_no , @nivaforskning, @akvaplanniva , Across Nature and HofsethBiocare. The projects goal is to scale up the restoration of kelp forests in Norway.

🤝 @sut_dykk the student diving club in Tromsø is a key partner, renting out wetsuits to many of the snorkelers.

#citizenscience #kelpforestrestoration @kelpforestalliance @kelpforestfoundation #marinerestoration #seaurchins

🤩 Sea urchins are indeed amazing 🤩

In Norway, the green sea urchin (on the video) is a native species that has become invasive since the 1970s as a result of overfishing its natural predators.

Once overabundant, urchins overgraze their habitat, turning kelp forests into biological deserts, the « urchin barrens ».

To restore kelp forests, volunteers led by Rissa Citizen Science lower the density of urchins on three sites in Tromsø and Øksfjord.

These volunteers –the Kelpers– keep track of how many urchins they collect or crush while diving. They passed 57,000 urchins since 2023.

Kelp forests grow back naturally after the urchin density is brought down. But of course, maintaining kelp forests requires a constant effort. On the long term, the fish populations must be restored to pre-industrial fishing levels, so that predators keep urchins under control. Sea urchins play a very important role in healthy marine ecosystems.

👉 Join the next kelp restoration event in Tromsø or Øksfjord (go to Rissa’s website/EVENTS).

🤝 Our kelp forest restoration efforts with volunteers is part of the Ocean Green project @oceangreenofficial , led by Ava Ocean, with @nibio_no , @nivaforskning, @akvaplanniva , Across Nature and HofsethBiocare. The projects goal is to scale up the restoration of kelp forests in Norway.

🤝 @sut_dykk the student diving club in Tromsø is a key partner, renting out wetsuits to many of the snorkelers.

#citizenscience #kelpforestrestoration @kelpforestalliance @kelpforestfoundation #marinerestoration #seaurchins

✍️ To start this event, each participant will hand-write a short letter to the Minister for Climate and Environment Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, to support a ban on international commercial trade.

🐻‍❄️ Then, take the stage and tell us your favorite polar bear story!
——
For now, the polar bear is listed on CITES Appendix 2, which means the commercial trade is allowed under certain conditions.

🇳🇴 Norway continues to import polar bears. Between 2012 and 2021, Norway imported 185 polar bear hides from Canada, 144 for commercial purposes, 37 as hunting trophies and 4 for personal use.

In 2028, governments will gather at CITES COP21. Polar bears will only be considered for stronger protection if a country submits a proposal to uplist them to Appendix I, which would ban all international commercial trade. Norway is best placed to submit a proposal to protect polar bears from international commerical trade.
——
Rissa Citizen Science is joining the campaign initiated by @tradesecretfilm to encourage Norway to submit a proposal to uplist the polar bear to CITES appendix I.
——
🤘 Fint Kafé & Bar is facilitating this event ❤️ @fint.tromso

#polarbear #polarbearconservation #protectthepolarbears @fint.tromso

✍️ To start this event, each participant will hand-write a short letter to the Minister for Climate and Environment Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, to support a ban on international commercial trade.

🐻‍❄️ Then, take the stage and tell us your favorite polar bear story!
——
For now, the polar bear is listed on CITES Appendix 2, which means the commercial trade is allowed under certain conditions.

🇳🇴 Norway continues to import polar bears. Between 2012 and 2021, Norway imported 185 polar bear hides from Canada, 144 for commercial purposes, 37 as hunting trophies and 4 for personal use.

In 2028, governments will gather at CITES COP21. Polar bears will only be considered for stronger protection if a country submits a proposal to uplist them to Appendix I, which would ban all international commercial trade. Norway is best placed to submit a proposal to protect polar bears from international commerical trade.
——
Rissa Citizen Science is joining the campaign initiated by @tradesecretfilm to encourage Norway to submit a proposal to uplist the polar bear to CITES appendix I.
——
🤘 Fint Kafé & Bar is facilitating this event ❤️ @fint.tromso

#polarbear #polarbearconservation #protectthepolarbears @fint.tromso

🤿 The Kelpers give a lot of their time to restore kelps forests around Tromsø by lowering the urchin density. And with spectacular success, like along Sørsjetéen, a 200 meter long jetty in the city center.

🐟 But without enough of the natural urchin predators in the ocean, the culling of sea urchins will remain a necessity.

The Kelpers replace —very locally— the natural urchin predators, to allow kelp to thrive. At least there, one can see what a kelp forest may look like in a healthy ocean where fish communities are diverse and abundant.

🤝 Rissa’s effort to restore kelp forests with volunteers (the Kelpers) is part of and supported by the Ocean Green project @oceangreenofficial. Our most direct partner is NIBIO @nibio_no in charge of of Work Package 7 (outreach, citizen science, capacity building).
🤝 Tromsø University @uitnorgesarktiske and @arktiskmuseum are a precious partner for the Telegrafbukta restoration site.

🎥 The footage shows a spotted wollffish (Anarhichas minor) at Polaria @polaria eating an urchin collected by the Kelpers during a kelp restoration event at Sørsjetéen on Sunday 8/3.
This species differs from the Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) which is more likely to be found in shallower water, where kelp forests grow.

#citizenscience @polaria @kelpforestalliance @kelpforestfoundation #kelpforestrestoration #wolffish #urchins #seaurchins

🤿 The Kelpers give a lot of their time to restore kelps forests around Tromsø by lowering the urchin density. And with spectacular success, like along Sørsjetéen, a 200 meter long jetty in the city center.

🐟 But without enough of the natural urchin predators in the ocean, the culling of sea urchins will remain a necessity.

The Kelpers replace —very locally— the natural urchin predators, to allow kelp to thrive. At least there, one can see what a kelp forest may look like in a healthy ocean where fish communities are diverse and abundant.

🤝 Rissa’s effort to restore kelp forests with volunteers (the Kelpers) is part of and supported by the Ocean Green project @oceangreenofficial. Our most direct partner is NIBIO @nibio_no in charge of of Work Package 7 (outreach, citizen science, capacity building).
🤝 Tromsø University @uitnorgesarktiske and @arktiskmuseum are a precious partner for the Telegrafbukta restoration site.

🎥 The footage shows a spotted wollffish (Anarhichas minor) at Polaria @polaria eating an urchin collected by the Kelpers during a kelp restoration event at Sørsjetéen on Sunday 8/3.
This species differs from the Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) which is more likely to be found in shallower water, where kelp forests grow.

#citizenscience @polaria @kelpforestalliance @kelpforestfoundation #kelpforestrestoration #wolffish #urchins #seaurchins

Leave No Trace, in Ånderdalen National Park
🎦 The documentary is now available on Rissa Citizen Science’s YouTube channel (and on Rissa’s website/blog).

THE PITCH:
🇫🇷 -> 🇳🇴 -> 🇫🇷 Twelve teenagers from Fénelon school (La Rochelle, France) set out on a memorable journey to Northern Norway. Traveling by train and bus to minimize their carbon footprint, they head to Ånderdalen National Park, 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle.

🏔️ There, they spend a week immersed in hands-on conservation work, restoring peatbogs and hiking trails, and mapping biodiversity in a fragile and spectacular landscape.

🌲 Combining action, reflection on how humans can coexist with nature, and moments of quiet contemplation in a remote Arctic setting, the project emerges as a compelling example of regenerative travel, ultimately becoming a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for everyone involved.

Partners:
In close collaboration with Ånderdalen National Park @anderdalennasjonalpark and of course with École Fénelon Notre Dame, La Rochelle @fenelonnotredamelarochelle

With support from @itsgreatoutthere ❤️

#citizenscience #regenerativetravel #naturerestoration

Leave No Trace, in Ånderdalen National Park
🎦 The documentary is now available on Rissa Citizen Science’s YouTube channel (and on Rissa’s website/blog).

THE PITCH:
🇫🇷 -> 🇳🇴 -> 🇫🇷 Twelve teenagers from Fénelon school (La Rochelle, France) set out on a memorable journey to Northern Norway. Traveling by train and bus to minimize their carbon footprint, they head to Ånderdalen National Park, 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle.

🏔️ There, they spend a week immersed in hands-on conservation work, restoring peatbogs and hiking trails, and mapping biodiversity in a fragile and spectacular landscape.

🌲 Combining action, reflection on how humans can coexist with nature, and moments of quiet contemplation in a remote Arctic setting, the project emerges as a compelling example of regenerative travel, ultimately becoming a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for everyone involved.

Partners:
In close collaboration with Ånderdalen National Park @anderdalennasjonalpark and of course with École Fénelon Notre Dame, La Rochelle @fenelonnotredamelarochelle

With support from @itsgreatoutthere ❤️

#citizenscience #regenerativetravel #naturerestoration

Leave No Trace, in Ånderdalen National Park
🎦 Full documentary on YouTube (Rissa Citizen Science)

🇫🇷 -> 🇳🇴 -> 🇫🇷 Twelve teenagers from Fénelon school (La Rochelle, France) set out on a memorable journey to Northern Norway. Traveling by train and bus to minimize their carbon footprint, they head to Ånderdalen National Park, 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle.

🏔️ There, they spend a week immersed in hands-on conservation work, restoring peatbogs and hiking trails, and mapping biodiversity in a fragile and spectacular landscape.

🌲 Combining action, reflection on how humans can coexist with nature, and moments of quiet contemplation in a remote Arctic setting, the project emerges as a compelling example of regenerative travel, ultimately becoming a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for everyone involved.

In close collaboration with Ånderdalen National Park @anderdalennasjonalpark and of course with École Fénelon Notre Dame, La Rochelle @fenelonnotredamelarochelle

With support from @itsgreatoutthere ❤️

#citizenscience #regenerativetravel #naturerestoration

Leave No Trace, in Ånderdalen National Park
🎦 Full documentary on YouTube (Rissa Citizen Science)

🇫🇷 -> 🇳🇴 -> 🇫🇷 Twelve teenagers from Fénelon school (La Rochelle, France) set out on a memorable journey to Northern Norway. Traveling by train and bus to minimize their carbon footprint, they head to Ånderdalen National Park, 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle.

🏔️ There, they spend a week immersed in hands-on conservation work, restoring peatbogs and hiking trails, and mapping biodiversity in a fragile and spectacular landscape.

🌲 Combining action, reflection on how humans can coexist with nature, and moments of quiet contemplation in a remote Arctic setting, the project emerges as a compelling example of regenerative travel, ultimately becoming a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for everyone involved.

In close collaboration with Ånderdalen National Park @anderdalennasjonalpark and of course with École Fénelon Notre Dame, La Rochelle @fenelonnotredamelarochelle

With support from @itsgreatoutthere ❤️

#citizenscience #regenerativetravel #naturerestoration

🤿 Volunteers started restoring the southern side of Sørsjetéen in 2023. Thanks to them, kelp has returned, attracting an impressive marine biodiversity.

Snake pipefish (like most small fishes) needs seaweeds to hide, and these seaweeds have been replaced by urchin barrens in most places along the coast. Liga (@facethewild.underwater) spotted this pipefish among the young blades of what became a kelp forest a few weeks later. Several of her photos are currently displayed in an exhibit along the jetty.

Rissa’s effort to restore kelp forests with volunteers is part of the Ocean Green project (@oceangreenofficial) led by Ava Ocean, and composed of @nibio_no @nivaforskning @akvaplanniva, Across Nature and Hofseth BioCare.

🙏 This large print and 5 others were sponsored by @nibio_no and Ava Ocean, with a generous discount from @cewe.no THANK YOU!

The goal of Ocean Green is to scale up the restoration of kelp forests in Norway.

The Tromsø students diving club (@sut_dykk) is collaborating with Rissa Citizen Science by promoting these events and renting diving equipment to the volunteers. Our common goal here is to grow a local community of ocean advocates, through hands-on restoration.

The Arctic University Museum (@arktiskmuseum) and UiT (@uitnorgesarktiske) are also precious partners, especially at Rissa’s second restoration site at Telegrafbukta.

👉 These events are free.
👐 Anyone can join.
🙌 You just need to signup on Rissa’s website/events.

#citizenscience #kelpforest #kelpforestrestoration @kelpforestfoundation @kelpforestalliance #marinerestoration

🤿 Volunteers started restoring the southern side of Sørsjetéen in 2023. Thanks to them, kelp has returned, attracting an impressive marine biodiversity.

Snake pipefish (like most small fishes) needs seaweeds to hide, and these seaweeds have been replaced by urchin barrens in most places along the coast. Liga (@facethewild.underwater) spotted this pipefish among the young blades of what became a kelp forest a few weeks later. Several of her photos are currently displayed in an exhibit along the jetty.

Rissa’s effort to restore kelp forests with volunteers is part of the Ocean Green project (@oceangreenofficial) led by Ava Ocean, and composed of @nibio_no @nivaforskning @akvaplanniva, Across Nature and Hofseth BioCare.

🙏 This large print and 5 others were sponsored by @nibio_no and Ava Ocean, with a generous discount from @cewe.no THANK YOU!

The goal of Ocean Green is to scale up the restoration of kelp forests in Norway.

The Tromsø students diving club (@sut_dykk) is collaborating with Rissa Citizen Science by promoting these events and renting diving equipment to the volunteers. Our common goal here is to grow a local community of ocean advocates, through hands-on restoration.

The Arctic University Museum (@arktiskmuseum) and UiT (@uitnorgesarktiske) are also precious partners, especially at Rissa’s second restoration site at Telegrafbukta.

👉 These events are free.
👐 Anyone can join.
🙌 You just need to signup on Rissa’s website/events.

#citizenscience #kelpforest #kelpforestrestoration @kelpforestfoundation @kelpforestalliance #marinerestoration

😮 What an evening!

A packed room, a standing ovation at the end for Adam Cruise, the investigative journalist featured in the film (but really for the whole team of Trade Secret).

A remarkable investigative work that lasted for 6 years, the films shows the behind-the-scene of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) and its role in maintaining commercial trade of polar bears skins and trophies.

🇳🇴 Norway plays a very influential role in this trade, being the second importer of polar bear fur and trophies, just behind China.

🙏 ❤️ Many thanks to those who helped promote this memorable event.
Aurora Fokus will donate 40% of the ticket sales to Trade Secret.
Fint Kafé & Bar will give 10% of their sales to Trade Secret (coupons distributed to those attending the screening) which shows the local support for the total protection of polar bears worldwide.

Rissa CS is very happy to have initiated and facilitated this screening, and it was an honor to welcome Dr Adam Cruise, a world-class investigative journalist.

⚠️ Rissa CS is working on a follow-up project on polar bears in Tromsø: reach out if you want to know more, we are looking for 2 or 3 volunteers to join the project.

@tradesecretfilm @adamjcruise @abrahamjoffe @fint.tromso @aurorakinofokus
#polarbear #polarbearconservation

😮 What an evening!

A packed room, a standing ovation at the end for Adam Cruise, the investigative journalist featured in the film (but really for the whole team of Trade Secret).

A remarkable investigative work that lasted for 6 years, the films shows the behind-the-scene of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) and its role in maintaining commercial trade of polar bears skins and trophies.

🇳🇴 Norway plays a very influential role in this trade, being the second importer of polar bear fur and trophies, just behind China.

🙏 ❤️ Many thanks to those who helped promote this memorable event.
Aurora Fokus will donate 40% of the ticket sales to Trade Secret.
Fint Kafé & Bar will give 10% of their sales to Trade Secret (coupons distributed to those attending the screening) which shows the local support for the total protection of polar bears worldwide.

Rissa CS is very happy to have initiated and facilitated this screening, and it was an honor to welcome Dr Adam Cruise, a world-class investigative journalist.

⚠️ Rissa CS is working on a follow-up project on polar bears in Tromsø: reach out if you want to know more, we are looking for 2 or 3 volunteers to join the project.

@tradesecretfilm @adamjcruise @abrahamjoffe @fint.tromso @aurorakinofokus
#polarbear #polarbearconservation

🐻‍❄️ We are honored to facilitate the screening of TRADE SECRET in Tromsø, Saturday 28 Feb, at 18:00 at Aurora Kino.

👐 We are also welcoming Adam Cruise, the investigate journalist featured in the film for a live Q&A session after the film.

👉 Buy your tickets on the cinema’s website (search «Aurora Kino Trade Secret» on your browser)
❤️ Aurora Kino will donate 40% of the ticket sales to the Trade Secret team.
❤️ Fint Kafé & Bar will give 10% of their sales to Trade Secret (you will get a coupon at the screening)

TRADE SECRET is advocating a global ban on polar bear fur and trophy trade.
🇳🇴 Norway is the second importer of polar bear hides, rugs and trophies in the world after China.

@tradesecretfilm @abrahamjoffe @adamjcruise @aurorakinofokus @fint.tromso
#polarbear #polarbearconservation #wwf #polarbearinternational

🐻‍❄️ We are honored to facilitate the screening of TRADE SECRET in Tromsø, Saturday 28 Feb, at 18:00 at Aurora Kino.

👐 We are also welcoming Adam Cruise, the investigate journalist featured in the film for a live Q&A session after the film.

👉 Buy your tickets on the cinema’s website (search «Aurora Kino Trade Secret» on your browser)
❤️ Aurora Kino will donate 40% of the ticket sales to the Trade Secret team.
❤️ Fint Kafé & Bar will give 10% of their sales to Trade Secret (you will get a coupon at the screening)

TRADE SECRET is advocating a global ban on polar bear fur and trophy trade.
🇳🇴 Norway is the second importer of polar bear hides, rugs and trophies in the world after China.

@tradesecretfilm @abrahamjoffe @adamjcruise @aurorakinofokus @fint.tromso
#polarbear #polarbearconservation #wwf #polarbearinternational

Thanks to the Kelpers, life is coming back at Telegrafbukta!

These dedicated volunteers have removed over 32,000 sea urchins in this restoration site.

It is a bit early to tell how things will evolve, but we’re taking these new baby seaweeds as an encouragement.

The green sea urchin is an important part of a healthy ocean in Norway. But after overfishing reduced considerably the urchin’s natural predators, the urchin’s population exploded and the Norwegian coast turned into a large urchin barren where only a few species live. Without predators to control their population, urchins overgrazed their habitat.

With support from the Ocean Green project (@oceangreenofficial) we organize events where volunteers join (on land and in the sea) to restore these lost kelp forests.

After restoring a first site (Sørsjetéen) successfully, we started restoring Telegrafbukta in May 2025. Finally the sun is back (we are 350 km north of the Arctic Circle) and the ocean is waking up. The next two months will show how nature responds to our effort 🤞

🤝 @sut_dykk the student diving club has been a key partner, by providing wet suits to many of the snorkelers ❤️. We have been encouraging people to become a SUT member.

🤝 @arktiskmuseum the Arctic university museum has been facilitating the logistics, by letting us put up a tent (where the divers can change) under their roof when the weather was tough. We are also working closely with one of the researchers there.

👉 Everyone is welcome to join the events, and they are free. Check Rissa Citizen Science’s website/EVENTS and sign up!

🤝 Our main research partner in the Ocean Green project is @nibio_no. @nivaforskning and @akvaplanniva are also part of the consortium.

#citizenscience #kelpforest #kelpforestrestoration @kelpforestfoundation @kelpforestalliance #seaurchin

Thanks to the Kelpers, life is coming back at Telegrafbukta!

These dedicated volunteers have removed over 32,000 sea urchins in this restoration site.

It is a bit early to tell how things will evolve, but we’re taking these new baby seaweeds as an encouragement.

The green sea urchin is an important part of a healthy ocean in Norway. But after overfishing reduced considerably the urchin’s natural predators, the urchin’s population exploded and the Norwegian coast turned into a large urchin barren where only a few species live. Without predators to control their population, urchins overgrazed their habitat.

With support from the Ocean Green project (@oceangreenofficial) we organize events where volunteers join (on land and in the sea) to restore these lost kelp forests.

After restoring a first site (Sørsjetéen) successfully, we started restoring Telegrafbukta in May 2025. Finally the sun is back (we are 350 km north of the Arctic Circle) and the ocean is waking up. The next two months will show how nature responds to our effort 🤞

🤝 @sut_dykk the student diving club has been a key partner, by providing wet suits to many of the snorkelers ❤️. We have been encouraging people to become a SUT member.

🤝 @arktiskmuseum the Arctic university museum has been facilitating the logistics, by letting us put up a tent (where the divers can change) under their roof when the weather was tough. We are also working closely with one of the researchers there.

👉 Everyone is welcome to join the events, and they are free. Check Rissa Citizen Science’s website/EVENTS and sign up!

🤝 Our main research partner in the Ocean Green project is @nibio_no. @nivaforskning and @akvaplanniva are also part of the consortium.

#citizenscience #kelpforest #kelpforestrestoration @kelpforestfoundation @kelpforestalliance #seaurchin

🥳 The Strandvegen 8 KITTIWAKE HOTELS are back! 🥳

This decision will ease conflicts with residents and workers in the neighborhood, as the hotels will provide alternative nesting sites to the kittiwakes using buildings where they are generally unwanted.

Two large hotels on top of Strandvegen 8 had been removed in 2025 just before the nesting season. The result was catastrophic for the kittiwakes. It was also bad news for people since some pairs relocated to neighboring buildings.

One person even ended up in @bladetnordlys, being fined by the police and with bad publicity for destroying nests on their house during the breeding season. Now kittiwakes can return to the hotels.

The black-legged kittiwake is ENDANGERED on Norway’s Red List and faces a HIGH RISK OF EXTINCTION in Norway.

👉 If you want to support the kittiwake in Tromsø, reach out to us, and become a Kittiwalker!

🙏 This year, the @hurtigruten foundation is supporting our work with kittiwakes in Tromsø.
🙏 @focusnordic is sponsoring us with amazing @kiteoptics_nature binoculars that the most active Kittiwalkers can borrow for free to monitor the kittiwake nests.

#kittiwakes #coexistence #citizenscience #tromsø

🥳 The Strandvegen 8 KITTIWAKE HOTELS are back! 🥳

This decision will ease conflicts with residents and workers in the neighborhood, as the hotels will provide alternative nesting sites to the kittiwakes using buildings where they are generally unwanted.

Two large hotels on top of Strandvegen 8 had been removed in 2025 just before the nesting season. The result was catastrophic for the kittiwakes. It was also bad news for people since some pairs relocated to neighboring buildings.

One person even ended up in @bladetnordlys, being fined by the police and with bad publicity for destroying nests on their house during the breeding season. Now kittiwakes can return to the hotels.

The black-legged kittiwake is ENDANGERED on Norway’s Red List and faces a HIGH RISK OF EXTINCTION in Norway.

👉 If you want to support the kittiwake in Tromsø, reach out to us, and become a Kittiwalker!

🙏 This year, the @hurtigruten foundation is supporting our work with kittiwakes in Tromsø.
🙏 @focusnordic is sponsoring us with amazing @kiteoptics_nature binoculars that the most active Kittiwalkers can borrow for free to monitor the kittiwake nests.

#kittiwakes #coexistence #citizenscience #tromsø

Restoring kelp forests in Norway requires to lower the density of sea urchins, which means either harvesting them or crushing them.

Sea urchins are amazing creatures. The green sea urchin is a native species. It has become invasive as a result of overfishing, when its natural predators weren’t enough to keep its population under control. Urchins overgrazed their habitat, and created barrens, ecological deserts.

Sea urchins are often framed as the cause of the disappearance of kelp (and more generally seaweed) forests. Whereas in fact, their over abundance is mainly the consequence of industrial fishing since the 1970s. Urchins are the scapegoat in the story.

Sea urchins are amazing. Learn about them, and you will look at them in a different light ❤️

🤝 @rissa_citizen_science effort to restore kelp forests with volunteers is supported by the Ocean Green project @oceangreenofficial , led by Ava Ocean, in collaboration with @nibio_no , @nivaforskning , @akvaplanniva , Across Nature and Hofseth Biocare.
🤝 The Arctic University Museum of Norway @arktiskmuseum is facilitating our effort in Telegrafbukta.
🙏 The Ocean Green project is funded by @forskningsradet and @innovasjonnorge.

#seaurchins #communityengagement #kelpforestrestoration @kelpforestfoundation @kelpforestalliance #citizenscience @arktiskmuseum

Restoring kelp forests in Norway requires to lower the density of sea urchins, which means either harvesting them or crushing them.

Sea urchins are amazing creatures. The green sea urchin is a native species. It has become invasive as a result of overfishing, when its natural predators weren’t enough to keep its population under control. Urchins overgrazed their habitat, and created barrens, ecological deserts.

Sea urchins are often framed as the cause of the disappearance of kelp (and more generally seaweed) forests. Whereas in fact, their over abundance is mainly the consequence of industrial fishing since the 1970s. Urchins are the scapegoat in the story.

Sea urchins are amazing. Learn about them, and you will look at them in a different light ❤️

🤝 @rissa_citizen_science effort to restore kelp forests with volunteers is supported by the Ocean Green project @oceangreenofficial , led by Ava Ocean, in collaboration with @nibio_no , @nivaforskning , @akvaplanniva , Across Nature and Hofseth Biocare.
🤝 The Arctic University Museum of Norway @arktiskmuseum is facilitating our effort in Telegrafbukta.
🙏 The Ocean Green project is funded by @forskningsradet and @innovasjonnorge.

#seaurchins #communityengagement #kelpforestrestoration @kelpforestfoundation @kelpforestalliance #citizenscience @arktiskmuseum

TRADE SECRET is coming to Tromsø!

1 screening only:
Saturday 28th February, 18:00
Aurora Kino Tromsø
A @rissa_citizen_science event

The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with Adam Cruise, the investigative journalist at the heart of Trade Secret.

🐻‍❄️ Trade Secret is an award-winning investigative documentary exposing the little-known international commercial trade in polar bear skins – including Norway’s role within it.

Filmed over six years across nine countries, with extensive filming in Svalbard, Bergen, Tromsø, and Oslo, the film is a shocking exposé of a trade few people realise still exists, and the powerful forces working to sustain it.

✊ 40% of the ticket sales contribute to the film’s ongoing impact campaign (the rest goes to Kino Focus for hosting the screening).

👉 Buy your ticket on the Aurora Kino’s website.

@tradesecretfilm @aurorakinofokus #polarbear #tromsø

TRADE SECRET is coming to Tromsø!

1 screening only:
Saturday 28th February, 18:00
Aurora Kino Tromsø
A @rissa_citizen_science event

The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with Adam Cruise, the investigative journalist at the heart of Trade Secret.

🐻‍❄️ Trade Secret is an award-winning investigative documentary exposing the little-known international commercial trade in polar bear skins – including Norway’s role within it.

Filmed over six years across nine countries, with extensive filming in Svalbard, Bergen, Tromsø, and Oslo, the film is a shocking exposé of a trade few people realise still exists, and the powerful forces working to sustain it.

✊ 40% of the ticket sales contribute to the film’s ongoing impact campaign (the rest goes to Kino Focus for hosting the screening).

👉 Buy your ticket on the Aurora Kino’s website.

@tradesecretfilm @aurorakinofokus #polarbear #tromsø

🐳 What does the ocean sound like during the whale watching season?

WHERE: Tromsø Museum @uitnorgesarktiske
WHEN: Thursday 19 February, 18:00-19:30

A Rissa Citizen Science event about the impact of noise pollution on whales and orcas:
IN TWO PARTS:
👉 a talk by scientists Giovanna Bertella and Thea Asp (@oceansounds_org).
👉 a sound + video performance by Nico

FREE entrance.
RSVP on Rissa’s website/EVENTS.

🤝 In collaboration with the Arctic Museum/University of Norway @arktiskmuseum @uitnorgesarktiske
🤝 Acoustician Samuel Martinez Llobet @samullobet
🤝 Support from TVIBIT @tvibit

#whalewatchingtour #animaltourism #noisepollution #noisemusic

🐳 What does the ocean sound like during the whale watching season?

WHERE: Tromsø Museum @uitnorgesarktiske
WHEN: Thursday 19 February, 18:00-19:30

A Rissa Citizen Science event about the impact of noise pollution on whales and orcas:
IN TWO PARTS:
👉 a talk by scientists Giovanna Bertella and Thea Asp (@oceansounds_org).
👉 a sound + video performance by Nico

FREE entrance.
RSVP on Rissa’s website/EVENTS.

🤝 In collaboration with the Arctic Museum/University of Norway @arktiskmuseum @uitnorgesarktiske
🤝 Acoustician Samuel Martinez Llobet @samullobet
🤝 Support from TVIBIT @tvibit

#whalewatchingtour #animaltourism #noisepollution #noisemusic

🦦 Mark the dates in February!
Contribute from land or in the sea, help restore a kelp forest at Telegrafbukta! Anyone can join, it’s free. An opportunity to make a difference, while meeting likeI-minded volunteers who care about the ocean.

@rissa_citizen_science does not provide snorkeling equipment but we encourage everyone to become a member of the local student diving club @sut_dykk . You can become a member without being a student.

🧇 Volunteers will be treated with waffles and hot drinks :)

👉 Sign up on Rissa’swebsite/Events

🤝 The Ocean Green project @oceangreenofficial is supporting this grassroots initiative, as part of Work Package 7 led by @nibio_no

🤝 Dr Altenburger (The Arctic university of Norway / Tromsø Museum @arktiskmuseum) is a close research partner for the Telegrafbukta restoration site.

#kelpforestrestoration @kelpforestalliance @kelpforestfoundation

🦦 Mark the dates in February!
Contribute from land or in the sea, help restore a kelp forest at Telegrafbukta! Anyone can join, it’s free. An opportunity to make a difference, while meeting likeI-minded volunteers who care about the ocean.

@rissa_citizen_science does not provide snorkeling equipment but we encourage everyone to become a member of the local student diving club @sut_dykk . You can become a member without being a student.

🧇 Volunteers will be treated with waffles and hot drinks :)

👉 Sign up on Rissa’swebsite/Events

🤝 The Ocean Green project @oceangreenofficial is supporting this grassroots initiative, as part of Work Package 7 led by @nibio_no

🤝 Dr Altenburger (The Arctic university of Norway / Tromsø Museum @arktiskmuseum) is a close research partner for the Telegrafbukta restoration site.

#kelpforestrestoration @kelpforestalliance @kelpforestfoundation

Today at Sørsjetéen, volunteers sampled sea urchins to measure their mass and diameter. While enjoying waffles and having a good time together 🧇

@pixiepencil inaugurated the first lightning talk, and shared some personal stories about a male wolffish found at 400 m below the surface, and looking after his eggs. It was super interesting and fun to learn about a fish those restoring kelp forests hear so much about. Thank you Jane!

Many thanks to @roelm22 who sampled the sea urchins, to Kane, Thora, Sofia who did all the measurements and to Carina who entered all the values with care.

❤️ A generous supporter is letting us use his underwater drone to allow the volunteers who are not diving to admire the marine life thriving along the jetty: anemones, sponges, soft corals 🪸

🤙 We encourage everyone to become a member of the student diving club @sut_dykk, to join the Tromsø diving community while having access to diving equipment.

🤝 The Ocean Green project @oceangreenofficial is supporting our effort to restore kelp forests with volunteers in Tromsø. Our direct research partner in Work Package 7 is @nibio_no

🤩 We will back diving next month. Meanwhile, check out the photo exhibit along the jetty, with photos from @cleclebrun @facethewild.underwater and @anncoolsphotography. @cewe.no facilitated the printing, with support from all the Ocean Green Project’s partners.

#kelpforestrestoration #citizenscience #marinerestoration #seaurchins sørsjeteentromsø @kelpforestalliance @kelpforestfoundation @unoceandecad

Today at Sørsjetéen, volunteers sampled sea urchins to measure their mass and diameter. While enjoying waffles and having a good time together 🧇

@pixiepencil inaugurated the first lightning talk, and shared some personal stories about a male wolffish found at 400 m below the surface, and looking after his eggs. It was super interesting and fun to learn about a fish those restoring kelp forests hear so much about. Thank you Jane!

Many thanks to @roelm22 who sampled the sea urchins, to Kane, Thora, Sofia who did all the measurements and to Carina who entered all the values with care.

❤️ A generous supporter is letting us use his underwater drone to allow the volunteers who are not diving to admire the marine life thriving along the jetty: anemones, sponges, soft corals 🪸

🤙 We encourage everyone to become a member of the student diving club @sut_dykk, to join the Tromsø diving community while having access to diving equipment.

🤝 The Ocean Green project @oceangreenofficial is supporting our effort to restore kelp forests with volunteers in Tromsø. Our direct research partner in Work Package 7 is @nibio_no

🤩 We will back diving next month. Meanwhile, check out the photo exhibit along the jetty, with photos from @cleclebrun @facethewild.underwater and @anncoolsphotography. @cewe.no facilitated the printing, with support from all the Ocean Green Project’s partners.

#kelpforestrestoration #citizenscience #marinerestoration #seaurchins sørsjeteentromsø @kelpforestalliance @kelpforestfoundation @unoceandecad

As part of making tourism more REGENERATIVE in Tromsø, travelers who are exploring Norway onboard @vikingcruises contributed today to the Tromsø Tits research project @tromso_tits.

💡The project aims at better understanding the effect of light pollution in the Arctic on birds. It is led by Dr Tomotani at the Arctic University of Norway @uitnorgesarktiske.

⚠️ Overtourism is a serious problem in Tromsø, with negative impacts on the environment and local communities. It is an extractive industry, which converts nature, a resource that is free and available to all, into financial profits for a few, in ways that are not sustainable.

Regenerative tourism, on the other hand, creates the conditions where travelers are not viewed as consumers of commercial products, but can contribute during their visit to making the destination a better place for nature and the local population.

It’s a win-win system, where travelers experience a destination in ways that are rewarding, fun, and without the guilt that often comes with mass tourism.

🐣 Today, travelers explored an incredibly beautiful forest, in a small group, while being part of a meaningful research project. A hike with a purpose.

#regenerativetourism #lightpollution #tromsø #tromsfylkeskommune #tromsø_tits

As part of making tourism more REGENERATIVE in Tromsø, travelers who are exploring Norway onboard @vikingcruises contributed today to the Tromsø Tits research project @tromso_tits.

💡The project aims at better understanding the effect of light pollution in the Arctic on birds. It is led by Dr Tomotani at the Arctic University of Norway @uitnorgesarktiske.

⚠️ Overtourism is a serious problem in Tromsø, with negative impacts on the environment and local communities. It is an extractive industry, which converts nature, a resource that is free and available to all, into financial profits for a few, in ways that are not sustainable.

Regenerative tourism, on the other hand, creates the conditions where travelers are not viewed as consumers of commercial products, but can contribute during their visit to making the destination a better place for nature and the local population.

It’s a win-win system, where travelers experience a destination in ways that are rewarding, fun, and without the guilt that often comes with mass tourism.

🐣 Today, travelers explored an incredibly beautiful forest, in a small group, while being part of a meaningful research project. A hike with a purpose.

#regenerativetourism #lightpollution #tromsø #tromsfylkeskommune #tromsø_tits

Many thanks to Carina, Emily, Maren, Nicolas and Saga for their contribution and to Ina for hosting the event ❤️

🐣 The Tromsø Tits Project @tromso_tits is led by our research partner Dr Tomotani at the University in Tromsø @uitnorgesarktiske. With her team, Dr Tomotani studies the effect of the ALAN (Artificial Light At Night) on great tits, blue tits and pied flycatchers.

Over 200 nestboxes have been deployed in what is left of the forest on Tromsøya.

These new nestboxes will be put up by volunteers, and Dr Tomotani’s team in the next weeks.

Check the Events page of Rissa’s website if you would like to contribute. You can borrow snowshoes from us. Get in touch if you want to know more.

#citizenscience #tromsø #coexistence #communityengagement #natureconservation

Many thanks to Carina, Emily, Maren, Nicolas and Saga for their contribution and to Ina for hosting the event ❤️

🐣 The Tromsø Tits Project @tromso_tits is led by our research partner Dr Tomotani at the University in Tromsø @uitnorgesarktiske. With her team, Dr Tomotani studies the effect of the ALAN (Artificial Light At Night) on great tits, blue tits and pied flycatchers.

Over 200 nestboxes have been deployed in what is left of the forest on Tromsøya.

These new nestboxes will be put up by volunteers, and Dr Tomotani’s team in the next weeks.

Check the Events page of Rissa’s website if you would like to contribute. You can borrow snowshoes from us. Get in touch if you want to know more.

#citizenscience #tromsø #coexistence #communityengagement #natureconservation

📍Stop by Sørsjetéen, in Tromsø city center and check out this new exhibit, with photos from talented underwater photographers @cleclebrun @facethewild.underwater @anncoolsphotography.

🦦 The Kelpers are dedicated volunteers who participate in kelp forest restoration efforts in Tromsø.

🐟 They started in October 2023 and removed around 56,000 sea urchins along the 200 m of the southern side of the jetty. Kelp and other seaweeds are now thriving, creating a refuge for marine life, right in Tromsø city center.

🤝 This grassroots initiative is supported by the Ocean Green project @oceangreenofficial, which is funded by @innovasjonnorge and @forskningsradet). Ava Ocean is the project leader while @nibio_no leads work package 7, where @rissa_citizen_science is involved (citizen science, community building, outreach).

🫶 @tromsokommune and @tromsohavn have facilitated the exhibit.
🙏 @cewe.no sponsored the printing of 11 photos, and the result is amazing!

🤝 @tromsoobservatorium is a close partner of this kelp restoration project.

🫵 Join the next kelp restoration event, check the date on Rissa’s website/Events. Meet like-minded people, nature lovers, doers, enjoy free waffles and hot drinks 🧇☕️

#citizenscience #tromsø #coexistence #communityengagement #kelpforestrestoration

📍Stop by Sørsjetéen, in Tromsø city center and check out this new exhibit, with photos from talented underwater photographers @cleclebrun @facethewild.underwater @anncoolsphotography.

🦦 The Kelpers are dedicated volunteers who participate in kelp forest restoration efforts in Tromsø.

🐟 They started in October 2023 and removed around 56,000 sea urchins along the 200 m of the southern side of the jetty. Kelp and other seaweeds are now thriving, creating a refuge for marine life, right in Tromsø city center.

🤝 This grassroots initiative is supported by the Ocean Green project @oceangreenofficial, which is funded by @innovasjonnorge and @forskningsradet). Ava Ocean is the project leader while @nibio_no leads work package 7, where @rissa_citizen_science is involved (citizen science, community building, outreach).

🫶 @tromsokommune and @tromsohavn have facilitated the exhibit.
🙏 @cewe.no sponsored the printing of 11 photos, and the result is amazing!

🤝 @tromsoobservatorium is a close partner of this kelp restoration project.

🫵 Join the next kelp restoration event, check the date on Rissa’s website/Events. Meet like-minded people, nature lovers, doers, enjoy free waffles and hot drinks 🧇☕️

#citizenscience #tromsø #coexistence #communityengagement #kelpforestrestoration

A kelp forest is thriving in Tromsø along Sørsjetéen, but only thanks to the volunteers who dive and remove sea urchins regularly.

This small-scale success story brings hope, but it also shows that on the long-term, the ocean needs better protection, and more fish diversity and abundance to keep the sea urchin population under control.

The super abundance of urchins is a consequence of overfishing their natural predators since the 1970s.

The green sea urchins (Strongylocentrus droebachiensis) is the species that dominates. It is a native species in Norway, and it plays a very important role in healthy oceans.

👼 It would be short-sighted to demonize sea urchins, or to frame them as the ones responsible for the disappearance of kelp forests.

👉 Join the next kelp event!
👉 Contribute from land or in the sea
👉👉 More info and sign up on Rissa’s website/EVENTS

🤝 @oceangreenofficial supports our restoration effort in Tromsø.
🤝 @nibio_no is Rissa’s closest partner in the Ocean Green project, as the leader of Work Package 7 about outreach, capacity building and citizen science.

📸 cover photo by @cleclebrun ❤️

#citizenscience #tromsø #natureconservation #seaurchins #kelpforest @kelpforestalliance @kelpforestfoundation

A kelp forest is thriving in Tromsø along Sørsjetéen, but only thanks to the volunteers who dive and remove sea urchins regularly.

This small-scale success story brings hope, but it also shows that on the long-term, the ocean needs better protection, and more fish diversity and abundance to keep the sea urchin population under control.

The super abundance of urchins is a consequence of overfishing their natural predators since the 1970s.

The green sea urchins (Strongylocentrus droebachiensis) is the species that dominates. It is a native species in Norway, and it plays a very important role in healthy oceans.

👼 It would be short-sighted to demonize sea urchins, or to frame them as the ones responsible for the disappearance of kelp forests.

👉 Join the next kelp event!
👉 Contribute from land or in the sea
👉👉 More info and sign up on Rissa’s website/EVENTS

🤝 @oceangreenofficial supports our restoration effort in Tromsø.
🤝 @nibio_no is Rissa’s closest partner in the Ocean Green project, as the leader of Work Package 7 about outreach, capacity building and citizen science.

📸 cover photo by @cleclebrun ❤️

#citizenscience #tromsø #natureconservation #seaurchins #kelpforest @kelpforestalliance @kelpforestfoundation

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Follow Rissa on Instagram

@rissa_citizen_science

Our partners & supporters

Rissa Citizen Science is part of the Ocean Green project

bottom of page