In this project, we examine how decisions about the placement of aquaculture facilities in Norwegian coastal areas impact both the environment and sustainability goals. We investigate how decisions are made and how they can balance economic interests with considerations for more sustainable use of the coastal zone.
The management of Norway's coastal zone faces new challenges in light of increasing aquaculture activity and the need for sustainable land use. Aquaculture, particularly salmon farming, plays a significant role in Norway's economy but also impacts the coastal environment. Finding a balance between economic growth and environmental considerations is crucial for the future sustainable management of coastal areas.
This project investigates how decisions regarding the location of aquaculture facilities can align with the goals of increased environmental sustainability and the opportunities and challenges involved in ensuring a sustainable development of the aquaculture industry.
Project Goals
The project focuses on the management of the Norwegian coastal zone and how decisions regarding aquaculture location affect sustainable land use. The central research question is how the location of salmon farming facilities aligns with the goals of increased environmental sustainability. We study the interplay between economic interests and environmental considerations, and the factors influencing how well these goals harmonize. The aim is to identify constraints and opportunities for enhanced sustainability in decisions regarding the placement of cages in the coastal zone.
Method and Approach
The project is divided into several phases. First, we analyze a comprehensive dataset on the environmental status along the coast, combining scientific, legal, and social science insights. We map both environmental status and the locations of aquaculture facilities along the coast, coordinating environmental and geographical information to achieve the best possible overview for further analysis through selected case studies.
Simultaneously, we investigate decision-making processes related to the placement of aquaculture facilities, which are then compared with environmental outcomes. This allows us to study how different types of decisions affect land use and environmental status.
The case studies are based on an analytical framework for multi-level governance, where we first examine the variation in decisions at the municipal and county levels. We then compare the results with the environmental status mapped in the first phase. This provides important knowledge about opportunities and barriers to increased sustainability in aquaculture management through strategic use of the coastal zone.
Preliminary Findings
In 2025, we published an article that studies municipal positions on aquaculture expansion. A central finding is that local dependency on aquaculture cornerstone companies explains the bulk of variation in municipal positions. Municipalities hosting strong aquaculture industry clusters (AC) were found to be positive to expansion, regardless of the state of the environment. Moreover, the effect of AC on positions is weaker in municipalities with large, externally based corporations compared to those with smaller and locally entrenched companies. Furthermore, the effect of AC appears to be weaker in large and economically diverse municipalities compared to smaller municipalities.
Each November 2024 we arrange workshops with our project partners, discussing new approaches and explanatory factors to include in studies under development. The next step involves work on a study based on the County Aquaculture Collaboration’s (FAKS) database. This database provides an overview of how much time the authorities spend processing aquaculture applications (both new permit applications and amendment requests). It contains information such as the time spent by the various authorities involved, the outcomes of decisions, and official statements. The database covers applications handled over a 15-year period (2010–2025), making the dataset exceptionally comprehensive. Importantly, this material has not previously been analysed. A codebook for the database has been developed.
Next, we identify relevant cases for in-depth study of the decision-making process related to the establishment of new sea-based salmon farming locations and/or changes in biomass or area at existing sites. Also, work is underway on a scientific article about the database itself.
Project period: 2023-2027
