Conference Agenda

This presentation examines how core environmental law obligations – such as the precautionary principle, knowledge requirements, and environmental impact assessments – shape opportunities for low trophic aquaculture (e.g., kelp and mussel farming) in Norwegian coastal waters. Although research shows these practices might have minimal impacts and even support climate and restoration goals, current spatial planning and licensing frameworks continue to privilege established, capital-intensive marine industries while marginalising emerging alternative uses. Drawing on her PhD research, the presentation considers how this prioritisation reflects underlying assumptions about acceptable risk and economic value, and how coastal governance might shift toward more just, ecologically grounded practices.

Co-creating knowledge- i.e., the collaboration across disciplines and between researchers and non-academics, is considered a key approach for handling sustainability challenges. The co-creation process entails jointly i) defining the sustainability challenge, ii) determining how the new knowledge needed for addressing the challenge should be obtained and iii) discussing the value, applicability and relevance of the results and the societal actions that could be taken based on them. Such transdisciplinary work promises to be value congruent and work effectively with different types of knowledge systems, as well as producing quality research and contributing to solving “real-world” problems. In this talk, we discuss some of the challenges and opportunities of adopting a co-creation process in the context of a of a six-year research program – From Catchments to Coasts – engaging water governance and local and Indigenous communities. The goal of this program has been to improve our understanding of how terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems are linked, and how we can improve their integrated management.

The Convention on Biological Diversity article 8(J) requires states to “respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity”. This obligation is reflected in other international instruments and in section 8(2) of the Norwegian Nature Diversity Act, which emphasizes Sámi knowledge and traditional use. This paper analyses the content of the obligation and draws on a concept of social-ecological justice to explore the potential role of traditional and local knowledge in water governance in coastal zones and ecotones.

Participation plays a central role in water management, enabling residents and water users to contribute local and experience-based knowledge, propose solutions, and engage in implementing environmental measures. This presentation explores how traditional and local knowledge is expressed in both formal and informal contexts within water management efforts in Troms. We address key questions of representation, valuation of knowledge, fairness, and respect, as well as normative considerations in knowledge collection and interpretation. These issues are examined in light of the Convention on Biological Diversity (Art. 8(j)), the Norwegian Biodiversity Act (§8), and Norway’s implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive

The development of the aquaculture industry, impacting on fjord ecosystems and beyond, must rely on solid knowledge of ecosystems and environmental impacts. Growing environmental awareness and evidence-based regulation drive change. Political signals emphasize impact-based regulation over fixed limits, focusing on spatial use and cumulative effects. In June 2025, the Norwegian Parliament asked the government to explore how the industry can grow within ecological limits. A pilot for environmental flexibility began in October 2025. New regulations must integrate environmental and climate concerns, respect local interests, and clarify responsibilities. A key question concerns what knowledge base and clarifications are required at different levels—especially in municipal land-use plans—before approving new or modified aquaculture.

The contribution will consider a broad range of activities affecting fjord ecosystems, including land-based activities, and discuss how such activities are coordinated and prioritized through the Norwegian regulation on impact assessments and the associated planning regime as regulated in the Planning and building Act.