Our vision
Meet our CEO, Daniel Lux, in this film presenting the vision and plans of Oxygen Valley and how we will work to restore life below water with Mariager Fjord in Denmark as a lighthouse project.
The environmental state of Danish fjords
Many Danish fjords are affected by severe oxygen depletion: lifeless seabeds covered by black, oxygen-free mud and, in some cases, a “death shroud” of sulfur bacteria. Toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide bubble up, while elevated concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus are released back from the seabed — creating a vicious cycle of continued eutrophication and oxygen depletion.
More than half of the Danish fjords have been affected by oxygen depletion in recent years, and only two fjords are assessed to be in good ecological condition.
Reduced fish stocks and biodiversity
DTU Aqua has documented a dramatic decline in fish populations over the past 100 years. For example, in fjords such as Mariager, Vejle, Isefjord, and Roskilde, only about 20% of the flounder are caught today compared to 100 years ago. In addition, species such as cod and eelpout have almost disappeared from the Danish fjords.
Severe ecological destruction
Researchers from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) assess that the ecosystems in the Danish fjords have seriously collapsed — including an almost total absence of eelgrass and marine life due to oxygen depletion.
Persistent nutrient load
Despite years of efforts to reduce nutrient discharge, the levels of nitrogen and phosphorus remain high and unchanged – a recurring issue in Danish fjords and coastal areas.
Alarming hypoxic state
The extent of oxygen depletion has reached unprecedented levels. Aarhus University reported that in late September 2023, oxygen depletion was the worst in 20 years, affecting large areas. Although the storm surge in October helped improve oxygen conditions somewhat, critical zones remain, for example in Mariager Fjord and the southern Little Belt.
In 2022–2024, DCE estimated that the total area affected by oxygen depletion was slightly larger than the combined size of Zealand and Funen.
At Oxygen Valley, we believe in and work on solutions to restore a healthy ecosystem in the Danish fjords.
Life under water
“Life below water” is one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and is about conserving and sustainably using the world’s oceans, fjords, and lakes and their resources for sustainable development.
The goal focuses, among other things, on protecting ecosystems and ensuring that there is life under water also for future generations.
Oxygen Valley has its “Why” in this goal. Our mission is to work with a concrete starting point in Mariager Fjord and, through that, develop and spread knowledge into action for the restoration and preservation of life under water.
From problem to resource
Through projects, we will contribute to the restoration of the ecosystem.
We will, through collaboration, contribute to the restoration of rich plant and animal life
We will contribute to more research and knowledge in the field
We will be a catalyst for innovation collaborations across research and business.
Oxygen Valley will contribute to the restoration of healthy ecological conditions in Mariager Fjord and beyond. We share our knowledge from research and innovation locally and globally along the way, so that our knowledge can be applied to life in freshwater more broadly, in lakes and fjords.