Removing nutrients from the sea by growing algae?

	Photo: Milla Suutari, University of Helsinki

The Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) is clarifying whether the Baltic Sea nutrient load might be reduced by growing algae. This algae cultivation research forms part of the international SUBMARINER project, investigating new ways of using the sea. The project is seeking new means of combining economic activities with improvement of the marine ecosystem.

The Marine Research Centre of SYKE began a cultivation experiment with macroalgae, such as Cladophora glomerata, in May. Substrates constructed of nets and ropes, to which algae found in the sea can attach and grow, were lowered into the sea in Rymättylä and Tvärminne. As it grows, the algae binds nutrients found in the water. When the substrates are removed from the sea, the algae population attached to the substrates is also removed alongside the nutrients it has bound, cleaning the water locally.

For a duration of two years, a cultivation experiment is being conducted with algae to test whether macroalgae can remove notable amounts of nutrients from sea water and thus locally reduce the effects of eutrophication. Substrates have been placed near fish farming areas and clean sea areas. The algae are being subject to careful analysis, to clarify their applicability to energy production or other practical applications.

In addition, the same SUBMARINER project includes another test which SYKE is using to clarify whether microscopic plankton algae can be cultivated in municipal waste water. If this succeeds, the algae will utilise nutrients in the waste water. Cultivation tests beginning in October will be performed at the SYKE Suomenoja research station in Espoo. SYKE has been investigating possible uses of plankton algae in energy production since 2008.

Excluding Russia, all Baltic Sea region states are participating in the SUBMARINER project. Other countries are investigating the removal of nutrients with the help of mussels and by collecting common reed, and the use of wave energy and wind parks for other operations. SYKE is the only Finnish participant in the project. Most project funding is being provided by the EU’s Baltic Sea Region Programme, whose objective is to promote an economically and ecologically sustainable Baltic Sea region.

Further information:

• Sustainable uses of Baltic marine resources
• Jukka Seppälä, Senior Researcher, Marine Research Centre of SYKE, tel. +358 40 182 3316
  firstname.lastname@ymparisto.fi
• Ms Sirpa Pellinen, Chief Information Officer, SYKE, tel. +358 40 740 2754