Barents Sea Case
Photo: Audun Rikardsen
In northern Norway, fisheries have been the mainstay of the coastal communities' economy for many hundreds of years. The Barents Sea is a resource-rich area, and many fish species have regular spawning and feeding migrations that bring them close to the coast. Within fisheries, there have always been conflicts between large and small vessels and between different types of gear. Since the 1970s, new lines of conflict have also emerged. The oil and gas industry and the aquaculture industry have become key users of the same ocean and coastal areas, and in recent years tourism, offshore wind farms and mining for seabed mineral resources have caught great interest. At the same time, increasing emphasis has been placed on climate and environmental considerations.
In this case, we take a closer look at how the marine conflicts in the region have evolved, what set of institutions that have been established to handle the conflicts, and what has been achieved through these efforts. One important topic is how different conflicts compete for attention. Another is how conflicts can act as catalysts for more sustainable development pathways.
The Barents Sea case is studied in close collaboration with actors who represent key interests, values and knowledge related to the industrial transformations and the marine conflict potentials that exist in this region. The partners include the Norwegian Fishermen's Association, the Norwegian Coastal Fishermen's Association, Seafood Norway, Equinor, Petro Arctic, the Norwegian Society for Nature Conservation, and the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries.
Responsible partner: University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway
Contact
Peter Arbo:
Maaike Knol-Kauffman:
Kåre Nolde Nielsen:
Gunnar Sander:
Presentations
Introduction to the Barents Sea Case (powerpoint)
Introduction to the Barents Sea Case (video)