The Urchin Density Challenge gets a fresh upgrade!
Updated: Oct 21
The Urchin Density Challenge just rose to a whole new level! With the latest update, counting urchins becomes easier and more rewarding.
A Kelper at the Telegrafbukta site with the first-generation frame.
With the Urchin Density Challenge, those who can’t physically join our kelp forest restoration events can 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.
We explained why counting urchins is important in this previous article (The Urchin Density Challenge has begun) .
Install the app:
and start counting urchins!
The 50/50 cm frame used for the Urchin Density Challenge.
Between the launch of the Urchin Density Challenge in November 2025 and October 2026 users worldwide have counted over 27,000 frames and 321,000 urchins. Philip Redecker, the brilliant architect of the app said it himself: it’s pretty cool. Philip has now transformed the app with major upgrades, making the experience more intuitive and enjoyable.
Philip Redecker, the brain behind the Rissa Citizen Science app.
Our partner, Ocean Green, describes the Urchin Density Challenge as the gamification of science. For us, the Challenge is a way to engage more people in nature conservation and build a global community of ocean advocates.
Kelpers in Tromsø, May 2026
Tap and submit
With this latest update, you can now zoom in onto the frame, tap onto the urchins that you see (a number will pop up), and submit your count. Et voilà! The next frame will appear, and just so you know: you will never run out of frames. 25 new frames are photographed at every restoration event and uploaded into the app the same day. So far, 350 frames have been uploaded, and each frame can be counted an infinite number of times. The more counts, the more accurate they are. At least that is what we assume. Iona Wallis is soon starting her Masters thesis at UiT the Arctic University of Norway to confirm this hypothesis. Meanwhile, tap and submit!
Kelper in Øksfjord, by Ismaele Tortella.
Score!
What kind of an urchin counter are you? You can now answer that important existential question. Depending on your level of dedication, these are the achievements you can reach:
Dedicated Counter: 50 frame counts.
Century Club: 100 frame counts.
Expert Contributor: 500 frame counts.
Master Counter: 1000 frame counts.
And consistency pays off too!
Surely, you can reach a streak of 7 days to be a Week Warrior, but can you also make it to 30 days in a row to deserve the prestigious title of Month Warrior?
So far, only one person reached all the possible achievements. Since participation is anonymous, we don’t know who that person is. If you are this person, and you are reading these lines, please reach out to us. We would like to send you a little gift as a token of our gratitude :)
Last but not least, your ranking will show in the top right corner, although from 11 on, it will only say 11+. After all, not everyone is aiming for excellence, and every single frame count counts!
Install the app:
and start counting urchins!
Kelper in Telegrafbukta, by Ann Cools.
Without Philip Redecker, the Urchin Density Challenge would still be a promising idea. The Rissa Citizen Science’s app is also used by the Kittiwalkers to monitor the nests of the endangered kittiwake in Tromsø. Another one of Philip Redecker’s genius creation!
They are supporting or facilitating Rissa Citizen Science's effort to restore kelp forests with volunteers: Ocean Green, the Nordic Council of Ministers and The Arctic University of Norway.
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