CONTRA
Conversion of a Nuisance to a Resource and Asset, CONTRA
Baltic Beach Wrack
Contact: Tiia Möller, tiia.moller [ät] ut.ee
Duration of the project: 01.01.2019-30.06.2021
Finance program: INTERREG Baltic Sea Region
University of Tartu, Estonian Marine Institute together with other partners from Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden and Russian Federation are working on the project CONTRA for beach wrack management within the Baltic Sea Region.
Beach wrack is material, such as torn off sea grass and algae that is washed ashore by wind wave and tide action. It is often regarded as a nuisance and coastal authorities, particularly in tourist resorts, are put under a great deal of pressure to meet demands for it to be removed. Current ‘beach cleaning’ practices are costly for the local communities and are often in direct conflict with measures to safeguard the environment.
The project CONTRA (CONversion of a Nuisance To a Resource and Asset) aims to compile the knowledge required for the sustainable management of beach wrack. It is operating at six case study sites to assess the environmental, social & economic impact of wrack removal. It will also open up new opportunities for treatment and reuse options incl. fertilizer / soil improvers, bio-char, algae bio-covers for landfills, coastal protection / dune formation, biogas production and water quality improvement.
The project will develop a ‘tool-kit’ of management & recycling options that will ensure that all BSR municipalities can balance tourists’ demands for clean beaches with environmental protection. Over the project’s lifetime, an international network of stakeholders will be installed to exchange knowledge, build capacity & raise awareness including the promotion of low-treatment and no-treatment options.
The main focus of University of Tartu, Estonian Marine Institute project activities are on related to sustainability and ecological assessment of beach wrack.
The project coordinator is the University of Rostock, Germany.
Other partners are public authorities, businesses, academia & NGOs from the six countries (DK, DE, EE, PL, SE, RU) covering marine systems, coastal tourism, sustainable development as well as administrative structures of the Baltic Sea region.
Find out more about the project and CONTRA activities at www.beachwrack-contra.eu
You can also find us on Facebook @beachwrack.CONTRA