Country information
Basic facts on marine waters
- Territorial Sea (12 NM): 240 014 km2
- Exclusive Economic Zone: 1 791 720 km2
Technical resources related to MSP
Relevant MSP projects
- N/A
Current status of MSP
Name of the plan |
Integrated Ocean Management Plan for Barents Sea and Lofoten Islands (2006) |
|---|---|
Year of approval
|
N/A |
Size of planning area in km2
|
N/A |
Authority leading the MSP process
|
N/A |
Current status |
|
|---|---|
Pre-planning
|
Completed |
Assessments for planning
|
Completed |
Plan development
|
Completed |
Plan completion
|
Completed |
Plan approval
|
Completed |
Plan implementation
|
Completed |
Plan review
|
Completed |
Name of the plan |
Integrated Ocean Management Plan for Barents Sea and Lofoten Islands (2011) |
|---|---|
Year of approval
|
N/A |
Size of planning area in km2
|
N/A |
Authority leading the MSP process
|
N/A |
Current status |
|
|---|---|
Pre-planning
|
Completed |
Assessments for planning
|
Completed |
Plan development
|
Completed |
Plan completion
|
Completed |
Plan approval
|
Completed |
Plan implementation
|
Completed |
Plan review
|
Completed |
Name of the plan |
Integrated Ocean Management Plan for Barents Sea and Lofoten Islands 2015 |
|---|---|
Year of approval
|
N/A |
Size of planning area in km2
|
N/A |
Authority leading the MSP process
|
N/A |
Current status |
|
|---|---|
Pre-planning
|
Completed |
Assessments for planning
|
Completed |
Plan development
|
Completed |
Plan completion
|
Completed |
Plan approval
|
Completed |
Plan implementation
|
Completed |
Plan review
|
Completed |
Name of the plan |
Integrated Ocean Management Plan for Norwegian Sea (2009) |
|---|---|
Year of approval
|
N/A |
Size of planning area in km2
|
N/A |
Authority leading the MSP process
|
N/A |
Current status |
|
|---|---|
Pre-planning
|
Completed |
Assessments for planning
|
Completed |
Plan development
|
Completed |
Plan completion
|
Completed |
Plan approval
|
Completed |
Plan implementation
|
Completed |
Plan review
|
Completed |
Name of the plan |
Integrated Ocean Management Plan for Norwegian Sea (2017) |
|---|---|
Year of approval
|
N/A |
Size of planning area in km2
|
N/A |
Authority leading the MSP process
|
N/A |
Current status |
|
|---|---|
Pre-planning
|
Completed |
Assessments for planning
|
Completed |
Plan development
|
Completed |
Plan completion
|
Completed |
Plan approval
|
Completed |
Plan implementation
|
Completed |
Plan review
|
Completed |
Name of the plan |
Integrated Ocean Management Plan for North Sea (2013) |
|---|---|
Year of approval
|
N/A |
Size of planning area in km2
|
N/A |
Authority leading the MSP process
|
N/A |
Current status |
|
|---|---|
Pre-planning
|
Completed |
Assessments for planning
|
Completed |
Plan development
|
Completed |
Plan completion
|
Completed |
Plan approval
|
Completed |
Plan implementation
|
Completed |
Plan review
|
Completed |
Name of the plan |
Integrated Ocean Management Plans for Barents Sea and Lofoten Islands; Norwegian Sea; and the North Sea and Skagerrak (2024-2028) |
|---|---|
Year of approval
|
2024 |
Size of planning area in km2
|
2 154 652 km² |
Authority leading the MSP process
|
Ministry of Climate and Environment |
Current status |
|
|---|---|
Pre-planning
|
Completed |
Assessments for planning
|
Completed |
Plan development
|
Completed |
Plan completion
|
Completed |
Plan approval
|
Completed |
Plan implementation
|
Underway |
Plan review
|
Underway |
MSP Typology |
|
|---|---|
Scale (1 = Local / 2 = Sub-national / 3 = National)
|
National |
Scope (1 = Coastal Zone / 2 = Coastal and Marine / 3 = Marine)
|
Marine |
Purpose (1 = Strategic / 2 = Zoning / 3 = Comprehensive)
|
Strategic |
Political commitment (1 = Informal / 2 = Executive decision / 3= Legal statute)
|
Executive decision |
Implementation framework (1 = Guiding / 2 = Legally binding)
|
Legally binding |
Main objectives (1 = Biodiversity conservation / 2 = Economic development / 3 = Multiple objectives)
|
Multiple objectives |
Spatial allocation (1 = Limited / 2 = Partial allocation / 3 =Detailed allocation)
|
Partial allocation |
Stakeholders involved (1 = Limited / 2 = Key sectors / 3 =Sectors & Public)
|
Sectors & Public |
Participatory process (1 = Informative / 2 = Consultative / 3 =Collaborative)
|
Consultative |
Funding (1= Government / 2 = Public-Private / 3 = Grants)
|
Government |
National authority in charge of MSP |
Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment |
Governmental funding |
N/A |
External funding |
N/A |
Public-private funding |
N/A |
Total size of planning area |
Covers Norwegian territorial waters and EEZ |
Time required to complete the planning document |
Upstart of work 2002, first generation plans in placeBarents Sea 2006, Norwegian Sea 2009 and North Sea–Skagerrak 2013. Thereafter updates, now scheduled every four years. Last update for all areas endorsed by Parliament June 2024. New updates scheduled for 2028. |
Main issues that led to the adoption of MSP (drivers) |
Petroleum activity, fisheries, maritime transport, environment |
Stakeholder engagement activities |
Conferences/stakeholder meetings and hearings |
Sectors included in planning |
Petroleum, fisheries/sea food, transport, environment, renewable energy, defence, foreign affairs, regional development, finance. All at ministerial level, first six sectors mentioned also at agency level, preparing cross-sectoral factual basis |
Articulation between MSP and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (IZCM) |
Within one nautical mile beyond the coastal baseline Norway has a system for Integrated Coastal Zone Management according to the planning and building act, and where the local government is the planning authority. The central government authorities are responsible for spatial planning and management in all areas beyond one nautical mile outside the baseline, on the basis of legislation for different sectors and the integrated ocean management plans. |
Articulation between MSP and marine conservation (including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework) |
Status for establishing of MPAs is reported in Integrated Ocean Management Plans. Norway’s integrated plan for the conservation of areas of importance for marine biodiversity will play an important role in the further development of Norway’s integrated ocean management regime. |
Articulation between MSP and sustainable blue economy |
MSP/Integrated Ocean Management is an important tool for achieving a sustainable blue economy: ‘The purpose of the management plans is to provide a framework for value creation through the sustainable use of marine natural resources and ecosystem services and at the same time maintain the structure, functioning, productivity and diversity of the ecosystems. The management plans are thus a tool both for facilitating value creation and food security, and for maintaining the high environmental value of Norway’s marine areas.’ |
Articulation between MSP and climate change (including the Paris Agreement) |
Climate change and rising ocean temperatures are having increasingly marked impacts on ecosystem condition in Norwegian waters. Adapting to climate change and a warmer ocean is covered as a topic in the Integrated Management Plans. |
Plan approval process |
Parliament |
Legal status of the plan (guiding or legally binding) |
Political framework, endorsed by Norwegian Parliament. Implemented through sectoral legislation |
Plan review process |
Every four years, based on updated cross-sectoral factual basis |
Performance monitoring and evaluation |
Goal achievement assessed in update of factual basis |
Interactions with neighbouring countries in the context of MSP attending transboundary coherence approaches |
Norway participates in relevant cooperation on marine management, e.g. through cooperation regarding the North Sea and Skagerrak. |
Legal framework
Plan endorsed by Parliament; sectoral authorities are responsible for implementing the measures set out in the management plans, under relevant legislation that they administer.
The central government authorities are responsible for spatial planning and management in all areas beyond one nautical mile outside the baseline, on the basis of legislation for different sectors and the integrated ocean management plans. Nature Diversity Act, Marine Resources Act, Petroleum Act, The Harbour Act, Pollution Control Act, Offshore Energy Act, Ocean Protection Act, and more.
Contact
Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment
Geir Klaveness – Specialist Director