Van Oord Ocean Health business line joins forces with scientists, offshore companies, government bodies and nature organisations. This is the first time that such large-scale research is conducted into how reefs can be restored in the North Sea. The new ReefCreate-XL project was launched this spring as an initiative of Nature Regeneration North Sea and 2026 focus is on designing reef structures.

Ocean Health is working together with another 10 organisations on the project, led by the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ). Over the next four years, ReefCreate-XL will investigate which reef structures are suitable for large-scale use and can help kickstart underwater life. Hard structures such as oyster reefs are vital nurseries for biodiversity at sea. Over recent decades, however, they have almost completely disappeared due to human activities, climate change, and disease.

During this preparatory year, the project team will design and improve different reef structures, which will be tested under natural conditions in the North Sea in 2027. Pilots will take place offshore at the Frisian Front, a protected nature area north of the Wadden Islands, about a day sailing from Harlingen. The development of the new reef structures and their impact on marine life will then be closely monitored for two years.

Thanks to the pioneering work of Van Oord Ocean Health and various organisations, a great deal of knowledge about reef restoration has been gained in recent years. This year, under the motto ‘learn by doing’, the project team will continue developing existing reef structures by testing and improving them for large-scale use. Examples include ‘treereefs’: discarded fruit trees that act as wooden reef structures and attract underwater life. Or ‘spat on substrate’, where millions of young oysters are attached to stones. Based on the results, the final designs will go into production. At the same time, all necessary preparations are being made to place the reefs on the seabed next year and monitor them closely.

The following organisations are participating in ReefCreate-XL: the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Wageningen Marine Research, Waardenburg Ecology, Van Oord Ocean Health, EcoShape, The Rich North Sea, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Delft University of Technology, Stichting Zeeschelp, ARK Rewilding Nederland and Stichting Doggerland. With funding from Nature Regeneration North Sea.