The Gullmar fjord, in Swedish Gullmarsfjorden or Gullmarn for short, is Sweden’s only genuine threshold fjord. At the mouth, outside Lysekil, the depth is a mere 40 metres, whiles the maximum depth, further into the fjord, is approximately 120 metres. This means that you can find an exciting marine life here, in some cases very similar to that found further offshore.
The marine scientists have a lot to explore in the Gullmar fjord and the surrounding areas. In this unique environment, researchers can closely examine everything from small animals such as krill and prawns. There have also been large-scale acidification experiments in giant mesocosms.
A number of our major research institutions and universities are represented in the area, in whole or in part:
- The Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Sciences – Kristineberg, part of the Gothenburg University
- The Institute of Marine Research, part of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
- The Biological Station Klubban, part of the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute and Uppsala University
Some interesting species found in the Gullmar Fjord:
- Cuttlefish
- King crab
- Dragonet
- Gurnard
… and the beautiful anthozoans like firework anemone and sea pens.