Sustainable Governance of Norwegian Aquaculture and the Administrative Reform: Dilemmas and Challenges

Abstract

This article discusses the impact of the Norwegian government's administrative reform on the management of the Norwegian aquaculture industry and coastal areas. The 2010 reform of government administration strengthened the County Councils’ role in issues of aquaculture at the expense of the regional offices of the Directorate of Fisheries. The aim of the reform was to increase self-governance through decentralization. However, international trends in coastal zone and marine resource management are moving in the opposite direction, aiming at more integrated and ecosystem-based approaches involving the management of larger, rather than smaller, geographic regions. This article examines the possible effects of this reform in light of the move from government to governance, and in the context of a broad policy shift toward a more integrated, ecosystem-based management (EBM) of the coastal zone. Based on insights from multi-level and coastal zone governance debates, we argue that an unintended consequence of the Norwegian administrative reform could be increased fragmentation of the aquaculture governance system, as well as a reduced capacity to implement EBM-related measures. At the same time, the reform might improve coastal zone planning, although a further step toward integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) would require a greater delegation of authority to the County Councils.

Keywords:

• EBM
• ICZ
• multilevel governance
• Norwegian government administration reform
• sustainable aquaculture management

Notes

The most important being the Marine Resources Act, the Aquaculture Act, the Plan and Building Act, and the Nature Managements Act.

As of January 2014 the Ministry of Industry and Fisheries.

In addition, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate are involved in cases that deal with the extraction of water, such as with hatcheries.

The ideas about ICZM and EBM are also reflected in recent Norwegian legislation and management through the Ocean Resource Act (Havressursloven) and the Nature Diversity Act (Naturmangfoldsloven).

The hospital reform in 2001 transferred the responsibility for the hospitals from the County Councils to the central state level, leaving the County Councils without one of their main tasks. To realize an untapped potential, and to further industrial and regional development, fewer and bigger units were seen to be appropriate and formed the basis for the political process to reorganize the regional level in the Norwegian political structure (Vebostad 2013; Greenpaper 2000).

Letter from Department of Fisheries dated August 17, 2001.

Letters from the Directorate of Fisheries on April 24, 2012.

Strong biological expertise is required to assess the “green” applications, which partly explains the disregard of the county level in this process. The handing out of “green” licenses also has to be viewed in light of a disagreement within the governing coalition, as it appears to be a political compromise between the parties who currently oppose growth in the aquaculture industry because of its threat to wild salmon and those who want a rapid increase in salmon production.

For instance, as voiced by industry representatives at a Consultation meeting between the Ministry, Directorate, County, and municipalities, discussing the industry's challenges with regard to accessing new areas (Tromsø, March 29, 2012).

Letter from Nordland County to Narvik Municipality dated July 2, 2013 where the county objects to the municipality's decision to remove all aquaculture localities from their revised coastal zone plan.

The Committee was appointed by the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs in September 2009 and presented its report in February 2011.

The boundaries are based on transport routes of pathogens in an area.