WILD LAB PROJECTS - Citizen Science around Tromsø & Senja

"Snorkelling in winter? Yes! Especially if it helps restore kelp forests, which are super important in capturing CO2 and detoxifying the water. You'll be wearing warm neoprene suits (when it's really cold, being in the water may actually feel warmer!). Alternatively, you can engage in kelp conservation from the shore and still make a great contribution to the project. Wild Lab Projects is a citizen science initiative that helps monitor and restore the ecosystems around Tromsø. The organisation partners with universities, NGO's and the municipality to collect data on climate change, restore biodiversity, and educate people on the importance of nature. This specific project involves removing sea urchins that would otherwise destroy kelp. By removing the urchins, the kelp forests can regrow. The likely reason that urchins have taken over so much space from the kelp is the overfishing of their predators (large fish like cod, haddock and wolffish). It's not too late to save the kelp, so get involved! Other projects run by Wild Lab Projects include snowshoe hikes to repair owl nesting sites, and collecting snow samples to monitor climate change."