Integrated Oceans Management in the Arctic: Norway and Beyond

Abstract

The introduction of ecosystem-based oceans management has become a critical issue in the Arctic. Norway has been at the forefront in introducing such comprehensive oceans management, where the assessment of the total impacts on ecosystems from various sources is a critical element, and a process for reconciling various concerns is another. An important lesson is that ecosystembased oceans management has to build on existing structures and administrative systems and develop these. The article also addresses the recent efforts at ecosystem-based oceans management in the Arctic Council, through the Best Practices in Ecosystems Based Oceans Management Project which resulted in a set of Observed Best Practices for ecosystem-based oceans management in an Arctic context. The experiences from seven Arctic countries were the basis for the identification of these best practices.