Ecosystem-based fisheries management in Norway

Over the last 20–30 years, a primary goal of management has been to ensure the recovery of the most economically important fish stocks, such as the overfished populations of cod, haddock, saithe, and herring. This has largely been successful, while resources of lesser economic importance have not received the same attention.

Some of these lesser species are in poor condition, and as part of the development of an ecosystem-based fisheries management approach, the authorities have in recent years also strengthened the management of these resources. The same applies, for example, to the preservation of vulnerable benthic habitats such as coral reefs.

Implementing the ecosystem approach involves defining management objectives and developing simple and efficient tools to achieve an overview of management needs and prioritise among these while integrating broader conservation issues and ensuring stakeholder involvement. 

A paper was published in 2017, presenting the practical implementation of the approach:

Towards ecosystem-based fisheries management in Norway – Practical tools for keeping track of relevant issues and prioritising management efforts (sciencedirect.com).