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
Overview of MSP related maritime uses
Current main uses:
| Aquaculture | Oil and Gas |
| Cables and pipelines | Ports |
| Fisheries | Scientific research |
| Military | Shipping |
| Mining | Tourism and Leisure |
| Nature conservation | Underwater Cultural Heritage |
| Offshore renewable energy | |
Which marine spatial plans exist?
Name of the plan (year) |
Integrated Ocean Management Plan for Barents Sea and Lofeton Islands (2006) |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
|
Pre-planning |
Status: Completed |
Assessments for planning |
Status: Completed |
Plan development
|
Status: Completed |
Plan completion
|
Status: Completed |
Plan approval
|
Status: Completed |
Plan implementation |
Status: Completed |
Plan review
|
Status: Completed |
Name of the plan (year) |
Integrated Ocean Management Plan for Barents Sea and Lofeton Islands (2011) |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
|
Pre-planning |
Status: Completed |
Assessments for planning |
Status: Completed |
Plan development
|
Status: Completed |
Plan completion
|
Status: Completed |
Plan approval
|
Status: Completed |
Plan implementation |
Status: Completed |
Plan review
|
Status: Completed |
Name of the plan (year) |
Integrated Ocean Management Plan for Barents Sea and Lofeton Islands (2015) |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
|
Pre-planning |
Status: Completed |
Assessments for planning |
Status: Completed |
Plan development
|
Status: Completed |
Plan completion
|
Status: Completed |
Plan approval
|
Status: Completed |
Plan implementation |
Status: Completed |
Plan review
|
Status: Completed |
Name of the plan (year) |
Integrated Ocean Management Plan for Norwegian Sea (2009) |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
|
Pre-planning |
Status: Completed |
Assessments for planning |
Status: Completed |
Plan development
|
Status: Completed |
Plan completion
|
Status: Completed |
Plan approval
|
Status: Completed |
Plan implementation |
Status: Completed |
Plan review
|
Status: Completed |
Name of the plan (year) |
Integrated Ocean Management Plan for Norwegian Sea (2017) |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
|
Pre-planning |
Status: Completed |
Assessments for planning |
Status: Completed |
Plan development
|
Status: Completed |
Plan completion
|
Status: Completed |
Plan approval
|
Status: Completed |
Plan implementation |
Status: Completed |
Plan review
|
Status: Completed |
Name of the plan (year) |
Integrated Ocean Management Plan for North Sea (2013) |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
|
Pre-planning |
Status: Completed |
Assessments for planning |
Status: Completed |
Plan development
|
Status: Completed |
Plan completion
|
Status: Completed |
Plan approval
|
Status: Completed |
Plan implementation |
Status: Completed |
Plan review
|
Status: Completed |
Name of the plan (year) |
Norway’s integrated ocean management plans —Barents Sea–Lofoten area; the Norwegian Sea; and the North Sea and Skagerrak (2020). |
|---|---|
Scale of the plan |
National (Three integrated ocean management plans, all presented to Parliament in the same document) |
Pre-planning |
Status: Completed |
Assessment for planning |
Status: Completed |
Plan development |
Status: Completed |
Plan completion |
Status: Completed |
Plan approval |
Status: Completed |
Plan implementation |
Status: Underway |
Plan review |
Status: N/A |
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 |
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 place Barents 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 2020. New updates scheduled for 2024. |
Main issued 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 coastal zone management |
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 protected areas |
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.’ |
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 |
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, and more.
Contact
Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment
Geir Klaveness – Specialist Director