Creating blue communities in Øksfjord, Finnmark

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.

Flying above a kelp forest, by Clément Brun.

Kelp is life, we need kelp

The kelp forest is the ocean’s jungle: a thriving ecosystem bursting with life and productivity. Its long fronds filter the water by absorbing nitrogen, create breeding grounds for countless fish species, offer shelter to marine animals, and shield coastlines from the relentless force of waves. By absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, kelp plays a vital role in curbing climate change and ocean acidification.

A snake pipefish (Entelurus aequoreus) hides in a young kelp forest.

However, the modernization of fishing methods and fleets in the 1970s led to intense pressure on coastal fish stocks, disrupting this delicate balance. With their natural predators depleted, sea urchin populations have exploded. These spiny creatures have grazed relentlessly on seaweed, stripping away the once-lush forests and leaving behind vast underwater wastelands, the so-called “urchin barrens.” It is important to note that in Norway, the green sea urchin is a native species and plays a very important role in healthy marine ecosystems. Their overpopulation is a consequence of a disrupted ecosystem.

Urchin barren on the restoration site in Øksfjord.

What do we do from here?

The first step toward solving any problem is building knowledge and awareness around it. That’s why it’s essential to share the story of disappearing kelp forests and the ripple effects this loss has on marine life, and on all of us living above the sea.

Today’s young people are growing up surrounded by troubling environmental news and challenges so vast that they can often feel overwhelming. Through this project, we aim to foster hope for the future by making the issue more tangible and inspiring a deeper sense of care, connection, and empathy for the ocean and nature.

A freediver is measuring the urchin density on Rissa's restoration site in Bukta, Tromsø (photo Ann Cools).

A grassroot, community project designed to last

The aim of this project is to spark curiosity, creativity, and action in support of marine life. In Finnmark, the sea has long been central to why people have settled and thrived, and we seek to strengthen this deep-rooted “blue society” on land. The project is interdisciplinary and innovative, bringing talented professionals to a region where cultural activities and events are less common. All age levels will have the opportunity to participate in the project, even though we focus on young and seniors. After this year, the project will be carried forward by the manager of the municipality’s marine protected area.

Exploration of the sea with an underwater drone in Tromsø.

Art, outreach and restoration

We will bring the kelp forest into the classroom through creative weeks filled with art and learning, then turn knowledge into action by restoring a kelp forest near the center of Øksfjord, together with young people, elders, and the wider local community. This hands-on effort will demonstrate that nature can be restored, and that individual actions truly can create positive ripple effects. We draw on experience from similar projects in Tromsø, at Sørsjetéen and Telegrafbukta, where Rissa Citizen Science has worked successfully with both restoration and community engagement.

Three "Kelpers" at the Telegrafbukta kelp forest restoration site in May 2025.

Who are we?

The idea of this project came from the Lopphavet Marine Protected Area, and its manager Anita Holmgren. Anita has studied marine biology at NTNU, UiT and UNIS and is passionate about the kelp forest and communicating the wonders of this underwater biodiversity heaven.

Anita Holmgren, manager of the Lopphavet Marine Protected Area.

The project is owned by Rissa Citizen Science, a Tromsø-based nonprofit whose mission is "to raise empathy for nature through community engagement, citizen science and result-oriented actions". Rissa Citizen Science collaborates closely with researchers and local stakeholders, creating opportunities for people to take part in environmental projects that make a difference at the local level. Delphin Ruché, Rissa Citizen Science's founder and director, is leading the kelp restoration work and coordinating the citizen science activities in Øksfjord.

Delphin Ruché, founder and director of Rissa Citizen Science.

Emma Gunnarsson is an artist who explores the interplay between her local environment and human impact on nature. She was educated at the Bergen Academy of Art and Design and the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. Originally from Sweden, she has lived in Northern Norway for ten years. Since 2018, she has worked with DKS (Norwegian cultural education program) on sea-themed projects, connecting ocean knowledge with collaborations with marine biologists and cyanotype, a historical photographic technique. Through her company Arctic Lux, she creates cultural projects and workshops. In this project, she will run workshops using kelp, seaweed pressing, and cyanotype printing to engage the students with the topics of the project.

Emma Gunnarsson.

Documentary director and cinematographer Ismaele Tortella completes the team, and brings his experience as a diver and cinematographer specialized in nature documentaries.

Documentary director and cinematographer Ismaele Tortella.

The Lopphavet Marine Protected Area

Lopphavet Marine Protected area was established in 2022 and is located in Hasvik, Loppa and Alta commune. It is managed by a local board consisting of representatives from each commune, the Sámi parliament and Finnmark county council (Finnmark fylkeskommune). The purpose of marine protected areas is to protect nature of national importance for future generations. Lopphavet marine protected area is in the category of exposed sea-areas and includes a range of different habitats from shallow to deep waters, like cold water corals, shell-sand deposits and kelp forests. The area is also important feeding grounds for common guillemot, puffin, kittiwake and coastal cod. It will function as a reference area for research and has a goal of maintaining the natural resources used by the sami population.

As the kelp forests inside Lopphavet marine protected area are far away from where people live, this project will be an opportunity to bring the kelp forest to the local community in Øksfjord.

Lopphavet Marine Protected Area.

Join us in Øksfjord!

In the fall 2025, we will be every day on the jetty from October 14 to 21 (first round), and from October 29 to November 2 (second round).

During the first round, we will welcome pupils from Øksfjord school and run educational activities with them. We will explore the restoration site with an underwater drone connected to screens on shore. We will be documenting biodiversity on the site, just before lowering the density of sea urchins to facilitate the return of kelp next spring.

During the second round, Ismaele Tortella will present his latest documentary “Stone Biter: Saving the Arctic Sea Forests” at Loppakroaon November 1.

Volunteers are welcome to join for one or more days during these two rounds, and help lower the density of urchins on the restoration site. Thanks to Høgtun Skole, we can offer free accomodtion to all volunteers.

Wolffish by Ismaele Tortella.

The third round will take place at the end of November and will be led by Emma Gunnarsson and Anita Holmgren. They will lead art workshops in local schools, elderly homes, and the wider community to explore the kelp forest in creative and inspiring ways.

An open art workshop will be held on Wednesday, November 26, followed by a public exhibition at the community center on Friday, November 28. The exhibition, organized in collaboration with Loppa kommune, will showcase artworks created during the week alongside photos from this year’s “Artsjakt” competition. The event will also include presentations about the project’s progress and the kelp forest. The workshop will be announced on Rissa Citizen Science’s website and social media channels.

Cyanotype, by Emma Gunnarsson.

The project will resume in spring 2026. We look forward to creating art with the local schools, hosting open workshops, and discovering whether together we’ve managed to build a new “blue community” beneath the surface in Øksfjord sentrum.

Stop by the jetty or join us:

October 14-21 &

October 28 - November 2

And come to Ismaele Tortella’s screening on November 1 to learn more about kelp and to share your own experiences and stories with us!

Detail of the urchin barren in Øksfjord.

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We are grateful to Sparebankstiftelsen Sparebank1 Nord-Norge for supporting this project. Many thanks to Støa for supporting the project through discounted accommodation, Høgtun skole for collaboration and letting volunteers borrow the school, Brisk Aqua Service As for giving space to drying of diving equipment and the administration in the commune for smooth communication and enthusiasm.