Van Oord Ocean Health business line is participating in ReefCreate-XL alongside scientists, offshore companies, government bodies and nature organisations. It is the first large-scale research project that seeks to restore reefs in the North Sea.
The ReefCreate-XL project was launched this spring as an initiative of Nature Regeneration North Sea and 2026 focus is on designing reef structures.
Van Oord Ocean Health is working together with another ten 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.
Also read: Pilot trials oyster reef restoration in Port of Rotterdam
Large-scale deployment
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.
‘Reef restoration in the North Sea requires scalable and practical solutions. On behalf of Van Oord Ocean Health, where we work on the large-scale restoration and strengthening of marine ecosystems, we apply our experience in maritime infrastructure to the design and implementation of reef structures that are not only ecologically valuable but can also be installed at sea safely and efficiently,’ explains Lucie Evaux, Project Manager Van Oord Ocean Health.
Also read: RWE to place nature-inclusive Reef cubes at Dutch wind farm
From start-up to scale-up
Thanks to the pioneering work of the 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.
Also read: How reefs made from culled trees can help kickstart sea life
Solving the reef design puzzle
Because reef restoration is still a relatively young field, designing reefs that meet the requirements of biodiversity, regulations and scalability is a complex puzzle.
Nienke Oostenbrink, Project Manager at Nature Regeneration North Sea, states on the NIOZ website: ‘To roll out reef restoration measures on a large scale, it is important that the structures can be installed safely and efficiently at sea. At the same time, they need a natural 3D structure that attracts a wide range of marine life and supports the ecosystem.’
Also read: Ecocoast launches Ecoreef nature-based mooring block
Partners
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.
Picture: “Spat on substrate”, where millions of young oysters are attached to stones (photo by Van Oord).
