We must gain greater knowledge of the oceans

“To utilise the full potential of the oceans and to meet the challenges facing us, we must gain greater knowledge of the ocean,” says Norway’s Minister for Fisheries and Coastal Affairs, Lisbeth Berg-Hansen.

The ocean expanses play a key role in the work of future access to food, public health and environmental changes. At the same time, it is a known fact that the environmental and climatic changes taking place are impacting the biological resources of the oceans.

“Norway is a major nation when the sea expanses are included in the surface integral, and the sea has given to Norway great wealth.  The sea also holds both known and unknown future potential. Therefore I would like to invite representatives from the industry, the administrative authorities and the knowledge community to help work on a strategy entitled Ocean21. The strategy shall be tasked to draw up guidelines as to how Norway should structure and manage the overall marine research effort,” says Lisbeth Berg-Hansen.

An external steering group will be established for Ocean21, with participants drawn from the industry, the administrative authorities and the knowledge community. The steering group shall prepare a report including recommendations for the ministries involved.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs shall formulate a mandate for the steering group and its composition, together with seven other involved ministries.  The Research Council shall form the secretariat for this work.

Contact person: Deputy Director General Jartrud Steinsli, tel.: +47 22 24 64 55