In early July, Menno de Boer from the Doggerland Foundation boarded the research vessel RV Senckenberg for a ten-day journey to the Dogger Bank. His task was simple in theory: collect seawater. But from that water, filtered and stored under carefully controlled conditions, he hoped to help answer a much bigger question – what still lives on the Dogger Bank?
Stretching across the waters of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark, the Dogger Bank is one of Europe’s largest submerged sandbanks. It was once home to thriving shellfish reefs and a wide range of marine life, but centuries of trawling, dredging and disturbance have left it severely degraded. Now, supported by the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme as part of a new wave of Phase 3 seascapes, the Doggerland Foundation will focus on restoring ecological function and improving habitat conditions on the Dogger Bank. But before active restoration can begin, the team needs to know what’s still out there.
That’s where environmental DNA (eDNA) comes in. By collecting and filtering seawater from key locations, Menno aimed to capture traces of marine life, tiny fragments of genetic material that species leave behind in the water column. Analysing these samples will help build a clearer picture of which species remain and where; laying the groundwork for future restoration decisions.
“By measuring marine life this summer, we can determine over time whether our efforts to rewild the Dogger Bank are effective,” Menno explained ahead of departure. “eDNA is a fantastic technique for getting a picture of what lives in and on the seabed. It’ll help us understand who lives on the Dogger Bank now and where we can actively support marine life, such as by restoring shellfish reefs.”
Sailing and sampling
Getting there was no small effort. The RV Senckenberg set off from Wilhelmshaven on 9 July, after a delay due to rough weather. “The day we set sail, I got quite seasick,” Menno admitted in a message from sea. “The waves were one and a half to two metres high. When the sea calmed down, I was able to take a pill, and thankfully that worked well. I haven’t had any problems since then. Not even today, even though the sea got a bit rougher again.”
Once at the Dogger Bank, the team began working their way through sampling stations in UK waters. “We’re making good progress visiting the research stations in the British part of the Dogger Bank,” he wrote. “This means we’re sailing extensively in and around wind farms, taking samples.” He spent most of his time in the ship’s wet lab, where he filtered the seawater and stored the samples. “The first day was a bit slower because I was still figuring out the best method, but now it’s going very smoothly. My usual spot in the wet lab is great. I have plenty of space there and can keep everything neat and clean.”
As the ship crossed into Dutch waters, the conditions calmed, and the wildlife sightings began. “Yesterday and the day before were truly beautiful days, with a smooth sea and blue sky. I’ve never seen such beautiful shades of blue. And the species! I have a soft spot for birds and I’m in heaven here. We sail almost constantly past guillemots and razorbills with their young, are overtaken by northern fulmars, and I see Manx shearwaters through the porthole while showering.”
Other sightings included seals, harbour porpoises circling the base of wind turbines, and, most memorably, minke whales. “For me, the highlight: yesterday, while working on an eDNA sample, I saw two minke whales.”
From field to lab
The ship made a brief stop at Heligoland before returning to Wilhelmshaven. Menno disembarked and travelled directly to Wageningen University, where he handed over the samples to marine biologist Dr Reindert Nijland. These samples, carefully filtered and preserved, will now be analysed to identify the species present across the sampling sites.
“It felt a bit strange,” Menno reflected, “after sailing over a thousand kilometres and filtering so much water, to finally hand over a small box measuring six by six inches. But I’m happy to say the mission was a success.”
The results, expected in September, will help the Doggerland Foundation and its partners decide where and how to support marine species recovery on the Dogger Bank, including the potential reintroduction of reef-building horse mussels.
It may have been just a small box, but it carries clues to a much larger story.
To find out more about the Dogger Bank, visit their project page.
