The industrialisation of the world’s oceans and coastal areas creates competition for ocean space and resources. In the process of blue-economy formation all kinds of disputes can arise: over resource access, development rights, and conditions for maritime operations, to name a few. In Norway, where maritime areas are roughly five times the size of its land area, conflicts linked to the blue economy are intensifying, driven by competing priorities for the country’s offshore space. For instance, the country has established ambitious targets for renewables and in particular offshore wind, and also wants to develop the aquaculture sector to cement Norway’s leading role in sustainable food production. Technological innovation has allowed these two industries to move offshore where they have attracted opposition from other sectors and interests, notably fisheries, petroleum, and carbon storage. PERMAGOV partners from UiT published a paper where they investigate the nature and dynamics of sustainability conflicts in Norway’s blue economy, a must read for anyone interested in offshore wind, offshore aquaculture, and marine spatial planning more generally.
