Ecosystem-based oceans management: Norway´s management plans

By: Alf Hakon Hoel and Erik Olsen Institute of Marine Research, Norway

Photo: T. de Lange Wenneck

Context & drivers The plans

The scientific basis Implementation

Relevance to tipping points

Integrated oceans management

Response to climate change, pollution, increasing economic activity

The cumulative impacts of various uses of and pressures on the marine environment

necessitate integrated approaches Addressed through a number of concepts:

Marine Spatial Planning, Ocean Zoning, Ecosystem-based ocean management etc.

An ocean state

• Area – Sea: 2,3 million km2 under

Norwegian jurisdiction

– Land: 385 000 km2

• Value creation – Petroleum, aquaculture and

fisheries are the main exports and foundation our welfare

Decline in oil/gas production: need for new fields to fill the gap

New areas off Northern Norway

Most promising: Lofoten – Vesterålen

Need infrastructure moving north to access arctic fields

Fishing is the main impact,

but with area-

conflicts with oil/gas

•VMS data for 2009 for vessels >21m •Pink blocks are areas opened for petroleum activities

Human use of the areas

Von Quillfeldt et al 2009

Anon 2009

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Pollution issues

The Plan

Start: 2001 Barents Sea: 2006,

revision in 2010/2011

Norwegian Sea: 2009 North Sea: planned

2013

The planning process

From: von Quillfeldt et al 2009

Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 c ro -Scoping Assments of impacts of: Aggregated analyses: 0..

• Oil and gas • Total impact ~

Status reports: • Shipping • Management goals c • Environment and • Fisheries • Gaps in knowledge Q)

resources • External influences • Vulnerable areas and E • Valuable area conflic of interests Q) • Socioecomnomic Consulation with public on C)

aspects mandate and final reports Stakeholder conference ro • Economic activities c

ro Development of Ecological ~ Quality Objectives

The science behind the plan

Some areas are more valuable than others

Spawning areas for cod, herring, capelin, haddock and saithe

Olsen et al. 2010. ICES JMS

Larvae areas for cod, herring, capelin, haddock and saithe

Particularly valuable and vulnerable areas

Von Quillfeldt et al 2009 Olsen and Auran, 2008

.. Valuab le and vulnerable areas C] Variable lce-edge r::oil'.J Dlsputed area

Revision of the Barents Sea plan (2010/2011) – new knowledge

• MAREANO seabed mapping project

• Idenfication of vulnerable nature types (OSPAR)

• + many other projects

MAREANO

Buhl-Mortensen and Buhl-Mortensen, 2009 MAREANO

Key Scientific challenges

Effects of climate change and ocean acidification Environmental risks and consequences of human

activities Effect of fisheries on benthic habitats

Better understanding of trophic interactions in the system

Defining and setting value to ecosystem components and habitats

Assessing vulnerability, cumulative impacts and cumulative vulnerability

Photo: T. de Lange Wenneck

Implementation

Implementation and review Ministerial steering group

Advisory group Management forum Forum for environmental risk

2010 Knowledge

base for review of

Management Plan

Political process:

New priorities

2011 New Gov.

White paper.

Revised plan

2007 2008

2009

Annual reports

Outside events

No specific legislation - implemented through existing legislation

New Oceans Resources Act Annual reporting of status and state of knowledge

Development of an indicator-based reporting system (ecosystem state)

Assessment of environmental risk Routing system for shipping

Fisheries regulations Area-based management framework for

petroleum

Area-based management frameworks

Olsen et al 2007

Norwegian petroleum dir, 2009

o

"' ";'

o .... .....

-75°-50°-35°-25° -15° -5 o o o 5 o 15 o 25 o 35 o 45 o 55 o 65 o 75 o 85 o

Management plan area Shipping routes

r:::] Ecologica lly va lua ble areas

CJ Disputed area .. Oil/gas discoveries

... .. .. .. High inten sity fishing

Fra mework for petroleum industry

No petroleum activity

No new pe troleum activities No drilling, Ma rch - September

:re •·e 6' E ~E 10' E 12' E

• Wells

CJTFOareas

[ Production Licences

Framework for Petroleum activities, Norwegian Sea 2009-2014

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- ..... tpnll; .. ..,..,.l

Risks associated with oil/gas production

e

Exploration drilling

Production

OLF Statoil

New Knowledge: Assessing environmental risk of oil spills

Tapsandel årsklasserekruttering - Data fra 1980-2004 vs. 2008/09

0 %

10 %

20 %

30 %

40 %

50 %

60 %

70 %

80 %

90 %

100 %

7 7ny 8 8ny 7 7ny 8 8ny 7 7ny 8 8ny 7 7ny 8 8ny

Nordland V Nordland VI Nordland V Nordland VI

Torsk Sild

Sann

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ighe

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0 % 0-1% 1-2% 2-5% 5-10% 10-20% 20-30% 30-50% >50% DNV 2010

New Events: Deepwater horizon

blowout

• Duration: 87 d • Total spill: 779 036 m3

• Spill rate: 8426–9857 m3d-1

Potential for improvements

ORGANIZATIONAL: Based on science, but need transparency and peer review

Improve cooperation between sectors Identifying disagreements, enhancing the scientific ethos

SCIENTIFIC Socioeconomic effects are not assessed

Ecosystem services are not assessed

Communication of uncertainties

Photo: T. de Lange Wenneck

Integrated oceans management and tipping points

Consider cumulative impacts

Assess risks Reconcile concerns Enhance resilience

Can the Norwegian experience be copied?

Small, homogenous and rich Efficient, centralized administration

Effective science

Thank you for your attention!

Photo: T. de Lange Wenneck