Investigations of the potential "nitrogen effect" of stone reefs, and contribution to the re-establishment of a stone reef in the Natura 2000 area "Løgstør Broad, Vejlerne and Bulbjerg" (Stone Reef Project I & II) (39354 & 39450)

As well as many inner Danish waters, Limfjorden is highly eutrophied due to land-based nutrients runoff, and some areas in the fjord often suffer from anoxia events. The current project evaluates the effect of stone reefs as a possible complementary tool in water planning related to the water framework directive (2000/60/EF) to reduce the negative outcome of such events. For this purpose, the project involves the establishment of a stone reef in Løgstør Broad in 2017 as well as comprehensive analysis of the potential "nitrogen effect" of already existing stone reefs in the broad.

The outcome of the project will help to assess whether stone reefs can be a future use as an instrument of retaining nitrogen in water management plans.

Partners
DTU Aqua
Limfjorden Council, Denmark (coordinator)
Aarhus University, Denmark
Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), Denmark
NIVA, Denmark
DHI, Denmark

Funding
The project is coordinated by Limfjordsrådet, Aalborg Municipality.

Research area: Coastal Ecology
Research area: Ecosystem based Marine Management