Oil Technology to Combat Sea Urchin Barrens in Northern Norway 

When kelp forests disappear, fish and other marine species lose vital habitats. The vast "urchin barrens" created by exploding sea urchin populations have therefore become a major ecological challenge along the Norwegian coast.

In Northern Norway, the scale is particularly large.

According to Design and Architecture Norway (DOGA), kelp forests equivalent in size to 700,000 football pitches are threatened by sea urchins.

Now, the American company Oceaneering will investigate whether technology and expertise from the oil and gas industry can be used to tackle the problem.

To develop new subsea technology

DOGA has awarded the company NOK 500,000 in innovation funding to develop and test new underwater concepts aimed at reducing sea urchin numbers on a large scale.

Working with partners including the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oceaneering will explore how such a solution can be made safe, cost‑effective, and environmentally sound.

The project combines marine research and design methodology with Oceaneering's experience of advanced subsea operations, with the goal of creating a new tool for nature restoration - and potentially a new green business opportunity.

Several different methods

The project is part of a broader landscape of projects that are attempting, in different ways, to restore kelp forests.

The Institute of Marine Research is investigating, among other things, whether artificial structures can help restore kelp forests. In 2024, artificial reefs were submerged in Melkøysundet outside Hammerfest.

The following year, researchers released catfish to investigate whether the fish established themselves and made use of the new kelp forest. Shortly afterwards, the researchers recorded clear effects on life in the area.

In Lofoten, work is also underway to rebuild marine ecosystems. In 2024, the Bellona Environmental Foundation opened the Centre for Marine Restoration in Kabelvåg, which is working, among other things, to rebuild kelp forests along the northern Norwegian coast.

Atlantic wolffish against sea urchins

Another research track focuses on identifying where kelp forests have the best conditions for growing.

Earlier this year, scientists at UiT’s Center for Ice, Cryosphere, Carbon and Climate (iC3) developed a method for predicting where kelp forests can grow along Arctic coasts. The method was first tested in Kongsfjorden in Svalbard and subsequently in six other Arctic areas.

Meanwhile, researchers at Akvaplan‑niva are exploring whether natural predators can help reduce sea urchin numbers.

Through the BlueRewilding project, they are breeding 500 juvenile wolffish to study how effectively the species can curb urchin populations - a problem largely driven by historical overfishing of urchin‑eating predators.

Investment in more targeted innovation

Oceaneering's project is one of 18 companies collectively receiving NOK 8 million in support from DOGA this year. The projects cover a range of industries and regions.

"The grant amount is small compared with what it may cost a company to invest in a solution that does not fit the market. The aim of the support is to enable companies to make the right choices at an early stage. Above all, this is an investment in more targeted innovation for growth and scaling," says Anne Bull, head of design-driven business development at DOGA.

Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth (Labour) emphasizes the need for Norwegian businesses to develop new solutions and enter new markets.

"Norway needs more businesses that dare to develop new solutions and enter new markets. To do so, they need to understand customers and needs better, and test ideas early. I am pleased that so many strong applications have been submitted, and I hope this year's grants can contribute to increased competitiveness and new jobs," she says.

For the kelp forest, this means that yet another possible solution will now be investigated, this time using technology from the oil and gas industry.