Anders Persson, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Biology, will receive SEK 2.8 million from the Kamprad Family Foundation. The grant will support research on artificial reefs aimed at helping the endangered Baltic cod.
Congratulations on the grant, Anders – how does it feel?
– It’s amazing! We’re a small group that has been working for a long time to develop methods for studying reefs, mostly with smaller equipment grants. Now we can recruit someone dedicated to compiling all the data we’ve collected – and will continue to collect.
Can you tell us a bit more about the project and the artificial reefs?
– The project builds on an initiative by the Hanö Cod Reef Association to construct artificial reefs as a way of testing whether they can support the recovery of the endangered Baltic cod. Our role in academia is to monitor the development of the reefs from various perspectives.
What exactly will you be doing?
– We’ve developed a video monitoring system for the reefs, but it generates a lot of footage that needs to be analysed. The plan is to use artificial intelligence to process the recordings more efficiently. We’ll also be tagging cod with transmitters to track individual behaviours on and around the reefs, which could help inform the placement of future projects. Another goal is to raise awareness about the state of the Baltic Sea and offer a clearer picture of what’s happening below the surface.
How long will the project run?
– We’ll be recruiting a postdoc to start in the autumn. The project will run for two years and conclude in the autumn of 2027.
What results have you seen so far?
– We’ve seen that cod, in particular, are drawn to the reefs and often hide in their cavities. Some individuals appear to stay at the reefs almost continuously. It’s also encouraging that the condition and size of the fish are very good – something that has otherwise been a concern in the Baltic Sea in recent years.
More about the project
The Hanö Cod Reef project group consists of researchers from Lund University, the Marine Centre in Simrishamn, and the Hanö Cod Association.
- More about the members and the project can be found on Baltic Waters' website (balticwaters.org).
- Read more about the project on its own website – hanotorskrev.se. (in Swedish)
- Follow the project on Instagram: Hanö Torskrev (@hanotorskrev).
Text: Johan Joelsson
