Ottenby rev, Naturreservat

Beneath the surface at the southern tip of Öland lies a rich underwater world. Here you’ll find dense kelp forests, mussel beds, and lush eelgrass meadows. The vegetation-covered seabeds serve as ideal nurseries for fish. For seabirds and seals, the reef offers a well-stocked pantry. The reserve also protects shallow coves and sandbars that are highly valuable to wading birds.

Protection of Valuable Marine Environments

The Ottenby Reef consists of shallow marine environments surrounding Öland’s southern tip. Active fishing in the sea off the tip has largely not taken place since the Middle Ages. Since then, human impact on the local marine environment has been minimal. This makes the Ottenby Reef a healthy ecosystem rich in everything from microscopic algae to harbor seals!

Algae in brown, green, and red

The limestone plateau on which Ottenby rests continues southward underwater. The reef, nearly a mile long, makes up large parts of the reserve’s seabed. The reef is essential for algae to grow here, as they need a hard surface to attach to. The seaweed forests are lush and dense down to a depth of 10 meters, which is unique to both Kalmar County and its neighboring counties. This is because the water is so clear that light penetrates deep into the water. Seaweed needs light, just like plants on land.

Living Reefs

Large quantities of blue mussels grow on and around the reef. These mussel beds are called biogenic reefs—that is, reefs built up by living organisms. Like the limestone slabs, the mussels provide a place where algae can grow. The nooks and crannies of the mussel beds are also perfect homes for small marine animals.

Sandbars and lagoons

The reserve contains several shallow bays and sandbars. The largest, Sandviksreveln, lies along the eastern side of Öland’s southern headland. The sandbar is composed of sand and is constantly changing due to flowing water and storms. It is now so long that a lagoon has formed between the sandbar and the headland’s shores. In the lagoon’s sheltered waters, seagrass beds—primarily eelgrass—spread out.

Small Invertebrates, Fish, and Seals

The reserve’s underwater beds are highly valuable habitats. They are home to a multitude of small invertebrates such as sea shrimp, pond snails, and Arctic isopods. For small fish, they offer a sheltered environment where they can hide and find food. A total of fourteen different fish species have been recorded in the reserve. The abundance of fish attracts harbor seals and gray seals, which can take a rest on one of the islets or skerries after dinner.

Food for Birds

The reserve’s rich marine flora and fauna attract many birds. The lagoon offers plenty of food for wading birds, just a stone’s throw from their nesting sites on Sandviksreveln. Even migratory birds stop by the lagoon for a meal and a rest. Mussel beds in deeper waters are important for seabirds such as eiders, velvet scoters, and long-tailed ducks.