Restoring Tromsø’s urban kelp forest: Clément Brun’s account in Oceanographic.

Biologist and nature photographer Clément Brun has been instrumental in documenting kelp forest restoration along Sørsjetéen, just outside Tromsø’s city center. In his Oceanographic article ("Bringing Back Kelp"), he shares a personal account of his role in reviving one of Earth’s most productive—and threatened—ecosystems.

Meet Clément Brun, ocean advocate and one of Rissa’s most dedicated supporters.

Hi Clément, can you briefly introduce yourself?

Hi! I am originally from Brittany, France. I have been living in Northern Norway for the past 6 years and worked in and around Tromsø as a biologist, as an ocean nature guide and as a skipper. I came to Tromsø to complete my Masters degree in northern populations and ecosystems. After my degree, I worked for the Norwegian Polar Institute in Tromsø, and in Ny-Ålesund, a remote Arctic research station in the Svalbard archipelago. When I heard about this rewilding initiative, it felt natural for me to get involve with Rissa Citizen Science.

A Kelper is restoring kelp forests along Sørsjetéen.

Your story in Oceanographic is very inspiring! Can you please summarize it?

The article describes the ecological issue of the proliferation of sea urchins along the Norwegian coastline. The green sea urchin has been on the rise since decades and is slowly but surely grazing most of the kelp forest in Northern Norway. The overabundance of these sea urchins can be partly attributed to overfishing, which has decimated many of their natural predators like cod and wolffish, causing their populations to soar. I aimed to convey a hopeful message on this issue by showcasing the outcomes of Rissa's kelp restoration efforts through photographs taken at the restoration site. In my article for Oceanographic, I set out to share insights on the importance of kelp ecosystems while highlighting the impactful work being done by Rissa Citizen Science and all the volunteers.

Kelp and fish have returned to Sørsjetéen in Tromsø city center.

You have greatly contributed to the restoration of the kelp forest along Sørsjetéen, and you have also dived in many other places in Northern Norway. What do you think is unique to Sørsjetéen?

The most beautiful kelp forests I have seen in Norway were quite far from large towns and cities, usually located in very exposed areas with often rough weather conditions (west coasts of islands like Senja). This site though, is located in the heart of Tromsø city. I found it very powerful to rewild a site within the city center, despite Tromsø being the largest city in Northern Norway. Rissa managed to shift a very poor ecosystem into a thriving underwater forest in a very short period of time, showing the extremely strong resilience of these kelp forests.

From urchin barrens to kelp forest along Sørsjetéen.

As an underwater photographer, what is your most striking memory along Sørsjetéen?

We were all amazed at how quickly the kelp grew back. once the urchin density was brought to the minimum, it took just a few weeks for the forest to regenerate! I remember being in the water during our dives, completely in awe. It was also incredibly powerful to experience this alongside many of the Kelpers who had taken part in the events. Being able to share the results with everyone involved made it even more special. Knowing that the kelp forest had returned thanks to our collective efforts really reinforced the sense of belonging to a local community that deeply cares about the ocean and its life.

A Kelper is flying above an urchin barren.

Given your liking for remote and wild places, how does it feel to dive at a site located so close to Tromsø city center?

If you dive along Sørsjetéen now, it’s easy to forget you’re right next to the city center. The site is incredibly rich in biodiversity, teeming with fish, invertebrates, seaweeds, and kelp; a striking contrast to the urban life just above the surface. And you don’t even need to get in the water to witness the rewilding in action: the kelp forest is clearly visible from land, which makes it possible for anyone to compare it with the north side of the jetty, where no restoration efforts have taken place.

What Sørjetéen looked like before restoration started.

What would you say to someone who’s hesitating to join a kelp forest restoration event?

The water temperature often seems intimidating as it can drop to just a few degrees Celsius in winter. But there’s always plenty to do from land, so getting in the water isn’t necessary for those who prefer to stay dry. There’s a role for everyone, and what truly matters is sparking conversations about ocean restoration and nature more broadly. The more we learn and share about these vital issues, the stronger our collective impact becomes.

Views of Sørsjetéen after the restoration of the kelp forest with volunteers.

Is there anything you would like to add?

I have left Tromsø, but I am looking forward to seeing results this year and images from the restoration site. I have heard that wolffish have recently been spotted along Sørsjetéen which is an extremely heart-warming news.

Best of luck to the Rissa team for the upcoming summer projects, and I look forward to seeing you all soon!

Sørsjetéen teeming with life after the restoration of the kelp forest.