FLADFISK

Abstract

Eelgrass meadows play a vital role in coastal ecosystems by supporting biodiversity, improving water quality, and contributing to stabilization of the seabed. Despite national and international restoration goals, large-scale transplantation remains constrained by manual methods that are labour-intensive, time-consuming, and dependent on skilled divers. This project addresses the need for a scalable, efficient, and environmentally friendly tool to support eelgrass restoration efforts. Through a co-evolutionary design process, the proposed concept, FLADFISK, was developed, introducing a new transplantation method based on a degradable wire net preloaded with eelgrass shoots. The system is designed to reduce diver workload, improve orientation underwater, and enable precise planting in patterned formations. It eliminates labour hours and minimizes diver movement, offering a significant improvement over existing practices. The design process combined field visits, expert interviews, prototyping, and iterative testing to assess technical feasibility, material performance, and user interaction. Particular attention was given to environmental compatibility and practical integration with existing workboats. Although certain aspects - such as large-scale deployment logistics and in-field performance - remain to be validated, the final concept demonstrates potential to fill a critical gap in current restoration strategies. The outcome is both a functional prototype and a design exploration that rethinks transplantation tools. By focusing on operational simplicity, economical responsibility, and process integration, the project contributes new perspectives to the field of marine restoration and highlights the value of design-driven innovation in addressing environmental challenges.

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A master thesis from Aalborg University

FLADFISK