A fishing boat in the sea off Tromsø, Norway.
Photo: Adobe Stock.
The Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Fisheries has announced plans to improve the collection and sharing of ocean data to support the sustainable management of Norwegian marine areas.
Recognizing the vast amounts of data already collected by various maritime industries, the government aims to explore ways to consolidate and utilize this information more effectively, said Norway's Fisheries and Oceans Minister, Marianne Sivertsen Næss.
“There is broad agreement and a strong tradition that the management of Norwegian ocean areas must be knowledge-based," Sivertsen Næss said, in a Norwegian-language press release.
"We want to explore the possibility of requiring industry actors who are granted areas or permits for offshore activities to contribute data. This could provide valuable insight into both the ocean and the activities taking place there,” she added.
The Ministry noted that Norwegian maritime industries, both established and emerging, routinely collect ocean data to ensure efficient operations and regulatory compliance. By aggregating these data sets, authorities can enhance their understanding of marine ecosystems and industry impacts, ultimately leading to better-informed decision-making and policies, the Ministry indicated.
The initiative is part of the Norwegian government's ongoing implementation of its Business Plan for Norwegian Ocean Areas, which was launched in June 2024. The plan is designed to promote the sustainable development of both existing and new ocean industries, boosting employment and maximizing value creation while ensuring environmental responsibility.
A key focus of the plan is offshore spatial planning and coexistence among various marine stakeholders. To facilitate this, the government has introduced ten principles for the use of ocean space, ensuring a structured and cooperative approach to managing marine resources, the Ministry said.
