Hidden marine forests and blue community gardens awarded research grants

Increase knowledge about Swedish kelp forests 

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Kelp forests are lush underwater forests that cover large areas globally and play a crucial role in marine ecosystems. They serve as homes for many different marine species, help to sequester carbon and produce oxygen, and provide important ecosystem services. Kelp forests are also found in Sweden, yet knowledge of their distribution and health in Swedish waters is very limited. 
 
“We will use autonomous underwater vehicles equipped with advanced sonar and sensor technology to map the kelp forests and their habitats in a way that hasn’t been possible before. The project is a collaboration with KTH, and the technology allows us to collect data from large areas and at greater depths, where diving and satellite monitoring do not work effectively,” says Lars Gamfeldt, professor at the Department of Marine Sciences. 
 
“We will also study biodiversity, as kelp serves as a habitat for many species, including fish, crustaceans, and other algae. The project also aims to develop models to predict how kelp forests might change in the future,“ says Lars Gamfeldt.

Blue community gardens as future food source 

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A blue community garden is a cultivation platform in the sea for cultivation and storage, but unlike land-based cultivation, there is no need to add nutrients or water to the crops as the sea contains sufficient nutrients in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus. The blue community gardens can be built either at sea or near the coast. 
 
“We want to develop blue community gardening as a way to grow food together with others in a sustainable way and at the same time contribute to increased ocean awareness. The project builds on the work by the Centre for Sea and Society to create public interest in and engagement for ocean farming through its blue community garden prototype Flytevi in Frihamnen.” says Per Knutsson, Director of the Centre for Sea and Society.
 
“The project will compare existing community gardens in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Wales. We will then start new allotments, where we hope to use citizen science methods to monitor biodiversity, water quality and food security, but also in terms of stimulating collective action for and commitment to pressing sustainability challenges,” says Per Knutsson.

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