| Summary: | The Institute of Marine Research surveyed the kelp vegetation, before and after kelp (Laminaria hyperborea) harvesting in southern parts of Nordland county in 2013 and 2014. Survey stations included both kelp harvested areas and nearby reference areas, and was performed by underwater video. In addition, kelp plants were collected from pristine areas for measurements of plant size, age and epiphytes. Recordings of fish and crab abundance were made using fixed underwater camera systems and traditional catching gear prior to the kelp harvesting in 2014. Kelp landings in Nordland were 5.576 tonnes in 2013 and 5.929 tonnes in 2014. Size of kelp plants increased with increasing wave exposure, and the kelp stocks in the eastern, less wave exposed parts were mainly small, and considered not suitable for harvesting at present. The reestablishment of kelp in areas harvested in 2013 has so far been good, and grazing from sea urchins appears to have little effect on the recovery process
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