Participate in developing new tourist experiences that leave the destination better than when you arrived.

Why is it important?

The balance in Lillebælt is disrupted due to many reasons. Amongst these is the large number of shore crabs, who have gained the upper hand, and they are said to contribute to the destruction of eelgrass and thus living space for other animals, in their hunt for prey. Besides even more large-scale issues that nowadays affect all oceans, this particular matter puts fish fry under even more pressure. As if this wasn't enough, many stone reefs have been removed from the belt area for decades. This means fewer fish. And without larger fish, crabs have no natural enemies, and ultimately porpoises may not have enough food. It's a vicious circle. We are fighting to break it through four actions that reinforce each other.

Restore natural habitats.

The eelgrass plays a key role in shallow coastal environments. It produces oxygen and hosts a true haven of crustaceans, snails, mussels, fish, and fish fry. When it disappears, an evil circle starts. You can help break it. Learn more here

Shore crabs put pressure on the ecosystem.

You will get to catch crabs in two ways, at sea and by the shore. By doing so, you are helping Lillebælt because there are far too many crabs in the sea. And when you help remove them, you are doing something good for the belt-ecosystem. Learn more here

Build nurseries for fish fry.

Fish nurseries, along with efforts to increase eelgrass, more stone reefs, and better spawning grounds, are the path to a larger fish population. While the fish are small, they are vulnerable and need hiding places. If they manage to become adult cod and sea trout, the crabs will have a natural enemy that they don't have today. Thus, your fish nursery can help break the vicious circle that currently disrupts balance in Lillebælt. Learn more here

Restore a local water stream.

Møllebækken, located in Middelfart, has been hidden underground in a pipe for the past 50 years. But now, it's over. Over 100 tons of stones and spawning gravel are being laid out, and trees are being planted along the stream. The gravel provides optimal conditions for trout spawning. The stones and trees will provide hiding places and shade, allowing the fry to survive until they venture towards the sea. Come. Join local anglers and other nature enthusiasts in creating the foundation for new life in the stream. Learn more here

Who can participate?

We are looking for test pilots who are interested in nature activities, couples or friends who travel without children or with older children, and who can travel to the area and participate in the testing process in week 19 (May 6th & may 7th). Test pilots should be prepared to participate in tourist activities that have a positive impact on nature and activities that are not fully developed yet.

As a Test Pilot, we expect you to:

Complete a survey: Both before and after the activity you must participate in a survey that takes approximately 30 minutes. The survey is essential for us to understand your expectations and experiences before and after the activity. You must agree to allow us to use your answers in an anonymized form for our evaluation.

Interview: Be available for a potential 45-minutes interview after the activity, where you can share deeper insights into your experience. 

Dialogue: During the activity, an evaluator may accompany you. They’ll seamlessly integrate into the experience, possibly asking questions or simply observing the proceedings. This allows us to gain real-time insights into the value of the activity. 

In return, Destination Trekantområdet will provide accommodation, meals, and a professional setup for the duration of the testing period.

About the project

“Regenerative tourism on the world map in Naturpark Lillebælt” is a business development project that aims to strengthen Naturpark Lillebælt as a tourism destination through regenerative experiences and actions. The project, supported by the Danish Board of Business Development, is a collaboration between Destination Trekantområdet, Destination Fyn, Naturpark Lillebælt, and 16 private and public partners with experience economy interests in the Lillebælt area. The partners of the project also share a desire to make Lillebælt a better place to live, for people and nature, including through nature improvements that tourists can participate in. 

Apply to become a Test Pilot here: