– The world’s oceans are in serious crisis – NRK Norway – Summary of news from different parts of the country

In 2018, Prime Minister Erna Solberg established the Maritime Panel. The objective has been to analyze whether it is possible to have a sustainable marine economy worldwide.

On Wednesday, the panel, which is made up of the heads of state from 14 countries, presented its report. Norway has led the work together with Palau.

– The world’s oceans are in serious crisis and we must change the way we handle these challenges. The most important thing is that we implement a 100% sustainable management of the sea. This means that all countries develop management plans for their maritime areas so that they can manage them according to sustainable principles, says Solberg.

– Stop pollution

– What are the most important measures to save the sea?

– When we want to have clean and sustainable seas, we must make sure to stop pollution, to stop the influx of nutrients into the sea that leads to over-fertilization and acidification. And that we do more to prevent plastic from reaching the sea. But if we want this to happen, we must have those who live and work by the sea with us, says Solberg.

She emphasizes that it is not about economic activity having to stop. The key is to manage production in a sustainable way.

– We say yes to economic activity. We say that if we manage these values ​​properly, then we can have more economic activity, we can have bigger fisheries in the future if we manage to manage the business in a better way.

International cooperation is the key to success, according to Solberg.

– The world is first and foremost a marine planet, and the ocean’s resources are overloaded and underestimated. This is not sustainable and the nations of the world must work better together to ensure clean and productive seas.

The sea can give in a bag and in a sack

It is supported by climate scientist Jane Lubchenco of the University of Oregon.

– Without significant changes, the sea will not be able to continue giving us what we need, he said during the Zoom meeting where the report was presented.

This does not mean that one should exploit or protect. It can be put in both bags and sacks.

– A big reason for the crisis at sea is that we thought we had to choose. Fortunately, research shows it’s wrong, Lubchenco said.

She says there are smarter ways to use and utilize the ocean than today. Ways that don’t consume it. It requires a holistic approach (holistic, editor’s note).

– Researchers’ analyzes show that we can get up to six times more food from the sea than we do today. If we do the right things, said the climate scientist.

The report also concludes that investments in the sea can provide huge returns. $ 2.8 trillion invested today could generate $ 15.5 trillion in 2050. If invested in:

• Production of electricity from offshore wind energy.
• Sustainable production of food based on the sea.
• Emission free shipping.
• Restoration of mangroves and vulnerable belts in the transition between land and sea.

– Build alliances

The 14 countries in the panel have committed to a planned and sustainable management of all their marine and coastal areas. They will also introduce comprehensive plans for the management of their areas within five years.

– This is a necessary and demanding adjustment to secure the sea and the future of the marine economy. The Marine Panel’s package of measures is ambitious, but realistic and, at the same time, absolutely necessary, Solberg says in a press release.

– Is it realistic that all countries in the world can address this?

– The countries of the Marine Panel will take the first step and then we will try to build alliances. We must enlist the help of the UN, the World Bank and others in the work of getting more countries to commit. What we do near the coast is the most important, because that is where we have the most economic activity. So we must also work in international organizations to make ship traffic green, says Solberg.

Solberg adds that a lot has been done in the fight against plastic in the sea.

– There has been a popular commitment at the international level, but the work is not well coordinated. We need to do this more systematically.

Five main recommendations

The 14 countries on the panel are Australia, Canada, Chile, Fiji, Ghana, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Namibia, Norway, Palau, and Portugal.

These countries represent 30 percent of the world’s economic zones at sea.

The panel’s main academic report has five main recommendations:

• That decision-making processes around aquaculture must be based on research.
• Participate in purposeful plans for aquaculture.
• Reduce the risk of financing aquaculture projects, including the use of innovative solutions.
• Stop the pollution of the land.
• Do something about calculating measurements at sea so that the total and actual value of maritime and maritime areas is taken into account.