Norway has lost 80% of its kelp forests. The modernization of fishing methods and fleets in the 1970s led to intense pressure on coastal fish stocks, disrupting this delicate balance. With their natural predators gone, sea urchin populations have exploded. Urchins have grazed relentlessly on seaweed, stripping away the once-lush forests and leaving behind vast underwater wastelands, the so-called “urchin barrens.” Because this destruction happens beneath the waves, it goes unnoticed. That’s where we come in! Our mission is to restore kelp forests, with volunteers: the "Kelpers". Kelp forests: - Capture carbon, fighting climate change - Consume nitrogen that ends up in the sea - Produce vast amounts of oxygen - Reduce ocean acidification - Protect coastlines from storms - Provide nurseries for fish & marine life. If this is not convincing enough, kelp forests provide formidable ecosystem services, which scientists have evaluated to be 500 billion US$ per year. Simply put, we need these forests back, now! HOW YOU CAN HELP The TROMSØ KELPERS are a growing group of volunteers—snorkelers, scuba divers, and citizen scientists—who are taking action. In Sørsjetéen, a 200-meter-long jetty in Tromsø city center, these volunteers removed thousands of urchins since October 2023. On the first restoration site, the barren landscape has turned into a thriving kelp forest teeming with fish, lumpfish, nudibranchs, and colorful anemones. The second site is in Telegrafbukta. With guidance from marine biologists at the Arctic Museum of Norway, we will continue restoring Tromsø’s underwater forests. The third site is in Øksfjord in Finnmark. JOIN THE ADVENTURE Snorkelers & divers: Remove sea urchins and watch life return! Citizen scientists: Help monitor and document the changes. Land volunteers: Support logistics, safety, and… eat waffles when we're done! Anyone who can snorkel in a 7mm wetsuit can become a Kelper. Check out our next event, sign up, and be part of the story!