The Port of Gothenburg has embarked on a major project that will involve replanting 1.7 hectares of vital eelgrass meadows that will disappear with the building of a new terminal as part of the Port’s expansion programme, the company said in its press release.
The largest port in Scandinavia is growing. A new ro-ro and container terminal is due to be built beside the present ro-ro terminal at Arendal - the largest planned expansion initiative at the Port of Gothenburg since the 1970s.
On the site of the new terminal there are currently 1.7 hectares of eelgrass. To ensure eelgrass volumes are maintained in the Gothenburg Archipelago, the Port of Gothenburg will plant the same amount of eelgrass at another location in the vicinity.
The method that produces the best result is both expensive and time-consuming. One shoot at a time is planted by hand. It may be slow, but it is the approach research has shown works best.
A new ro-ro and container terminal is due to be built beside the present ro-ro terminal at Arendal.
To ensure the eelgrass has the best conditions possible in which to thrive, test planting will take place in four different areas. Some 10 areas will be evaluated during 2017 and test planting will begin the following year. Two years later, it will be evaluated and the area that produces the best results will be where the eelgrass is finally planted.
The replanting of eelgrass will be carried out in collaboration with marine biologist Sandra Andersson at Marine Monitoring. The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management and the County Administrative Board are also involved in the project. The investment is part of the environmental compensation commitment that the Port of Gothenburg agreed to when it was granted an environmental permit to expand the port.