Monday 27 April 2020

The government today presented management plans for the Norwegian marine areas - the Barents Sea and the marine areas off the Lofoten Sea, the Norwegian Sea, the North Sea and the Skagerrak. Among the measures is to move the border for petroleum activities in the Barents Sea to the south where there is on average sea ice on 15 per cent of the days in April.

Enlarge imagePolar guillemots

Colony of polar lomvi. The northern Barents Sea is the biologically richest and most productive marine area in the Arctic. Climate change makes the ice edge zone and the species found there more vulnerable to external influences. Photo: Norwegian Polar Institute

The purpose of the management plans for the Norwegian marine areas - the Barents Sea and the marine areas off Lofoten, the Norwegian Sea, the North Sea and the Skagerrak - is to facilitate value creation through sustainable use, while at the same time maintaining environmental values ​​in the marine areas.

- We will utilize resources in the sea while safeguarding the environment. In the management plan we present today, we take care of the environment while facilitating fisheries, shipping, petroleum and other important industries. The plan lays the foundations for a comprehensive management of Norwegian marine areas and a still sustainable marine economy, says Prime Minister Erna Solberg.

In the Barents Sea, climate change has been reflected in a long-term trend with rising sea temperatures, decreasing ice cover and major ecological changes, especially in the northernmost parts.

- The northern Barents Sea is the biologically richest and most productive marine area in the Arctic. Climate change makes the ice edge zone and the species found there more vulnerable to external influences such as oil spills. With a limit of 15 percent ice frequency, we take better care of the environment and reduce the risk of damaging vulnerable nature, says Minister of Climate and Environment Sveinung Rotevatn.

The management plans facilitate long-term value creation in our important marine industries and ensure that we take good care of the ecosystems that are the basis for a sustainable marine economy.

- We have been focused on finding solutions that allow valuable and vulnerable natural areas, petroleum activities and future value creation to live together. While we ensure the oil and gas industry stability and predictability. Previous management plans have been shown to be possible, and so are we with this plan. We must live by, and with, our beautiful nature in a sustainable way, says Minister of Petroleum and Energy Tina Bru.

This is the first time the management plans for the Norwegian marine areas have been compiled in a single announcement. The announcement is part of the Government's marine initiative, which involves an active policy for the sea, marine management and sea-based business activities, nationally and internationally.

- KrF has been clear that a dynamic definition of the ice edge zone is out of date. That is why I am pleased that the Government is today proposing a solution that provides a clear framework for the ice ridge zone, and that it is being pulled south, says Minister of Children and Family Kjell Ingolf Ropstad.

The report sees important industries for the Norwegian economy such as fisheries and aquaculture, shipping and petroleum activities in connection with environmental and ecosystems in the sea. It also looks at the conditions for future industries such as offshore wind power, extraction of seabed minerals, carbon storage below the seabed and production of hydrogen.