Sustainable Seas and Coasts

The sea and the coast are the most important arena for new business and a blue economy, with new bio-based industry and sustainable value creation. Marine resources can be developed through sustainable seafood production and good environmental conditions in the sea.

A sea of opportunities

The sea and the coastal zone have been important for people, society and business – and they will only become even more important in the time to come. The sea is our most important arena for future value creation – but also our best opportunity to keep global climate change at bay. With the global expectations for the sea, there is also a paradox: We wish to exploit more of the resources in the sea, without adversely affecting the climate and the environment.

Knowledge for sustainable resource management

Through collaboration with industries and authorities, our research provides a comprehensive knowledge and decision basis for sustainable resource management.

Sustainable seas and coasts are therefore one of NORCE's most important strategic areas, where our research in the environment, understanding ecosystems, aquaculture, biotechnology, climate, energy extraction, transport, monitoring and digitalisation contribute to solutions and innovations for growth in the future marine economy within sustainable frameworks.

NORCE contributes to the green transition in the ocean industries – including with research on how the aquaculture industry can become more sustainable, with better fish welfare, reduced CO2 emissions and a reduced environmental footprint. Ensuring environmental sustainability throughout the value chain, while the industry has ambitions for growth is a key dilemma for Norwegian society.

NORCE is a world leader in research on efficient aquaculture in enclosed facilities and has an increasing focus on making the blue economy more circular and resource efficient. We are developing new circular value chains from fish sludge, sustainable feed raw materials for farmed salmon and industrial enzymes that the marine product industry needs to increase the value of residual raw materials.

NORCE collaborates with environmental authorities and hydropower companies on how viable stocks of wild fish can be secured. Our leading research in conservation biology investigates how aquaculture activity affects local wild salmon stocks and other vulnerable species and maps environmental changes and measures in rivers, fjords and sea areas through long-term studies.

Through research and dissemination of knowledge, NORCE also addresses global issues such as marine plastic litter, the impact of climate change and pollution of aquatic ecosystems. Increased reuse also requires us to be able to separate out environmental toxins from new value chains – a dilemma within the circular economy where NORCE contributes its important holistic understanding.

  With our technology and combined knowledge, we describe and monitor the effects of both climate change and human activities at sea – such as how new ocean-based industries such as offshore wind and deep sea mineral extraction affect biodiversity, vulnerable species and habitats. NORCE develops environmental risk analyses and tools for supporting decision making, with the aim of ensuring that our research is communicated openly and adopted by both industry and the authorities.