Gaias PhD project is titled Ecological Blue Mussel Restoration in Roskilde Fjord (ROMUS). As suggested by the name, ROMUS will establish mussel reefs within the marine protected areas in Roskilde Fjord through a careful site selection process, powered by modelling tools:

• Habitat Suitability Modelling (HS), which will help us identify areas where the environmental conditions are favourable to the survival of blue mussel reefs.
• Agent-Based modelling (ABM), which will help us characterise larval dispersal in the estuary and find highly trafficked areas.
• Dynamic Energy Budget modelling (DEB), which will help us estimate the benefits of restoring mussel beds at specific sites.

Our ABM and DEB efforts are supported by the 3D coupled hydrodynamic-biogeochemical-mussel growth model FlexSem, developed at AU by our colleague @Janus Larsen.

We also aim to develop a restoration planning framework, aligned with national guidelines, that can be applied to other coastal areas. As someone who deeply cares about the state of our waters, I am thankful to the @Aage V. Jensen NatureFond for financing the project and to my supervisors, Marie Maar and Christian Lønborg, for allowing me to bring my contribution.

We’re also collaborating with amazing partners:

• Nationalpark Skjoldungernes Land
• Blue Research
• Gershøj Fritidsfiskerforening

…who have been instrumental in data collection and local engagement.

If you are curious about ROMUS and wish to know more, you can contact her at g.grieco@ecos.au.dk or check the ROMUS webpage at www.romus-rev.dk