She took part in Nordic Innovation’s Arctic Frontiers session ‘Marine Multi-Use as a Means to Achieve 30x30’ on January 29.
The event explored marine multi-use as a tool to achieve the global target of conserving 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030.
Representatives from both public and private organizations including the European Commission, Norwegian Fishermen’s Association, SINTEF, Norwegian Shipowners Association and Institute of Marine Research took part in the session and discussed challenges and opportunities of marine multi-use and its potential as a contributor to sustainable ocean conservation.
The discussion revealed that ocean management is a topic filled with dilemmas:
“How will we unite an efficient expansion of renewable energy, food production and transportation with a healthy, resilient and productive ocean? And how will we practically set aside 30% of the ocean for nature?” said Karen Ellemann, Secretary General, the Nordic Council of Ministers.
This point was shared by Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and the Ocean, Marianne Sivertsen Næss:
“There are dilemmas. We need to get more food from the ocean while at the same time protecting its biodiversity.”
The session included an overview of the urgency of ocean conservation followed by panel discussions looking into why marine multi-use is not already utilized as well as discussions on concrete marine multi-use solutions.
The need for concrete activities to accommodate the urgency of ocean conservation was highlighted by Dorothy Dankel, Senior Research Scientist at SINTEF:
“It is time for us to not turn our back to the nature. Because we can only achieve the global target of conserving 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030 if we take action.”
There was a general agreement across panels and keynote speakers that multi-use at sea represents many opportunities and provides a solution to many of the challenges related to ocean management:
“Multi-use is a no brainer because we are running out of space both on land and in the sea,” said Nina Jensen, REV Ocean.
Regional collaboration is key
Another clear key takeaway from the discussion was that ocean management is a cross-border matter.
Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Karen Ellemann highlighted the importance of regional cooperation as a key to success:
“Regional cooperation is key to successful ocean management. This is true when implementing marine spatial plans, when designating marine protected areas, as well as in the focus of today’s side-event – co-locating multiple sectors in the blue economy,” she said and continued:
“We need more knowledge, research, dialogue, cooperation and more delivering on commitment on this issue. This will require broad collaboration across the region and across disciplines.”
Need for a common tool
The side event was followed by a network meeting with representatives from municipalities, research institutions, private and public institutions and companies discussing different perspectives on multi-use at sea including balance between conservation and use, profitability, necessary technologies and regulations.
A red thread through all group discussions was the need for a tool that can help build up dialogue, trust and knowledge. The need for more innovation within regulation was another key takeaway.
Background
The events were organized in collaboration with UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic and UN Global Compact Norway. Nordic Innovation’s multi-use at-sea activities are supported under the Sustainable Ocean Economy program.
