4,438,547 (July 1999 estimate)
Land area:
307,860 km2
Coastline:
21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands 2,413 km, long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations
16,093 km)
(Source: CIA World Factbook
1999)
Norway
Country Contacts:
Ministry of the Environment
Myntgata 2, Postbox 8013 Dep, N-0030 Oslo, Norway
Telephone + 47 22 24 90 90
Telefax +47 22 24 95 60
http://www.dep.no/md/engelsk/index-b-n-a.html
Ministry of Fisheries
Grubbegt. 8, PO.Box 8118 Dep, N-0032 Oslo, Norway
Telephone +47 22 24 90 90
Telefax +47 22 24 95 85
http://www.dep.no/fid/engelsk/index-b-n-a.html
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Many thanks to the United Nations Commission on
Sustainable Development, the source of the following
information. The information was taken from Norway's
submission to the 5th Session of the Commission on
Sustainable Development, Last update: April 1997. For
further information on Norway's social and economic factors,
natural resources, and institutional structures see the
United Nations System-Wide Web Site on National
Implementation of the Rio Commitments National Information
for Norway at
http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/norway/index.htm
OCEANS AND COASTAL AREAS
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was signed by Norway in 1982 and ratified in 1996. Norway has also ratified the agreement for the implementation of the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks.
Norway has ratified the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) agreement on Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas, and has been active in the FAO work on a Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing. Most of the important principles in these international agreements are applied in Norwegian fisheries management, and initiatives have been taken to implement the precautionary approach in fisheries. The further implementation of the specific provisions of the Code of Conduct will be considered when acts and regulations are revised.
The main responsibility for oceans and coastal areas rests with the Ministry of Environment and its subordinate body, the State Pollution Control Authority. Some authority is delegated to state agencies at the regional level. The implementation of measures is the responsibility of the sectoral ministries, such as the Ministry of Fisheries, the Ministry of Industry, etc.
The main acts for regulating ocean and coastal issues are the Pollution Control Act (1983), the Seaworthiness Act, the Nature Conservation Act (1985), the Planning and Building Act (1986), the Saltwater Fisheries Act, the Aquaculture Act, and the Harbour Act.
Norway has a National Oceans Policy which is fully integrated with the national strategy for sustainable development. All the programme areas of Agenda 21's chapter 17 are considered to be important or very important and have been well and fully covered.
In principle, all pollutants to the oceans, especially hazardous substances, require international cooperation. Norway, therefore, participates fully and actively in all global and relevant regional cooperation for the protection of the marine environment from both sea-based and land-based activities. The issue of hazardous substances is fully addressed in national policy. It is stated in the report to Parliament concerning Norway's implementation of the North Sea Declarations that, as a matter of principle, all discharges of hazardous substances should be reduced to levels that are not harmful to man or to the environment by the year 2000.
In recent years management and development of the Oslofjord region has been in focus. As a result, the National Policy Guidelines for planning in coastal and marine areas in the Oslofjord were adopted in 1993. In effect, the guidelines define a national policy for the Oslofjord region. The implementation of the land use planning guidelines within the framework of municipal master plans and country plans is important.
In Norway, major groups contributing to national decision making on oceans and coastal management include NGOs dealing with the environment, fisheries, aquaculture, industry; labour organizations (LO), and the fisheries organization (Norwegian Fisherman Association).
Norway has established a coordinated approach to planning
and sustainable management of the coastal zone with respect
to accommodation, common property issues, pollution,
biological diversity, nature conservation, cultural
heritage, transport, industry, agriculture, marine culture,
fisheries, and other business. In coastal areas, it is often
necessary to complete municipal planning for several
municipalities as a whole. Coastal zone planning within the
framework of county planning on the basis of sustainable
management of natural resources is in progress. The
intention
is to develop close regional cooperation on the management
of the coastal zone, and thus make it easier to clarify
different interests and areas of conflict between
sectors.
Addressing sewage related problems is of very high national importance and is generally well covered. Norway is concerned about bringing sewage onshore in scattered areas, and has therefore not ratified Annex IV on Sewage of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL Convention 73/78). Other sources of marine pollution are also receiving full attention, and environmentally less harmful pesticides and fertilizers are comprehensively promoted. Discharges of organohalogen compounds and other synthetic organic compounds are also comprehensively addressed. Promotion of environmentally sound technology and sustainable practices are considered very important and these aspects are generally well covered. Public awareness and information programmes are strongly supported.
Coastal vulnerability assessment is very important and well covered in research activities. Systematic observation of the marine environment is also very well covered by Norwegian research and marine science, and these activities will be further strengthened in the coming years.
Norway initiated a study of phyto- and zooplankton in Arctic shallow lakes in 1995 to determine possible effects of ozone layer depletion.
Annual assessments are regularly made of the state of the environment in coastal and marine areas and of living marine resources. In addition, Norwegian experience with the transfer of environmentally sound technology is often relevant to oceans and coastal areas.
There are no subsidies in place in Norway relating to ocean and coastal area issues.
Norway is at present one of the leading countries in, and hosts the secretariat for, regional North Sea Cooperation. The integration of fisheries and environmental issues is on the list of priorities in this process. Norway has pledged its support to FAO in assisting developing countries to implement the Code of Conduct in their national fisheries policies, and supports a global Fisheries Management and Law Advisory Programme (FIMLAP) implemented by FAO. Other important international forums for cooperation are as follows: the Oslo & Paris Commissions (OSPAR), the Bonn Agreement, the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS) at the regional level; and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO/MEPC), London Convention 1972, and the Ocean Pollution Research Centre (OPRC) at the global level.
The Nansen Programme provided by Norway supports
developing countries in fishery research and management in
order to promote utilization of marine living resources and
an improved protection of the marine environment. The
Programme's objectives reflect recommendations of the United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)
and the spirit of international cooperation contained in the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The
Programme carries out field work through surveys with the
research vessel "Dr. Fridtjof Nansen" and produces basic
information on resource abundance and distribution to
satisfy immediate management needs. The long-term objective
of the Programme is self-sufficiency in research and
management in partner countries through the development and
strengthening of their institutions. In 1995, "Dr. Fridtjof
Nansen" has carried out research activities worth NOK 20
million.