Opportunity mapping for blue growth in Agder

Summary

The Aust-Agder and Vest-Agder counties include municipalities along the Norwegian Skagerrak coast, from Risør in the east to Flekkefjord in the west. Through the “Partnership for blue growth”, the coastal municipalities aim to facilitate blue growth in the region, and there is a need for science-based knowledge on which opportunities the ocean provides – and excludes - along the Norwegian Skagerrak coast. A mapping of opportunities will lay the foundation for development of the coastal-based industries in the region. To this end the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) and Institute of Marine Research (IMR Flødevigen) have completed the project “Opportunity mapping for blue growth in Agder”. The aims of the project have been to (1) map the opportunities that nature provides for business development along the coast of Agder, (2) dissemination of knowledge on the opportunities the ocean provides and excludes and (3) provide the knowledge-base for development of the coastal-based industries in the region. The report outlines possibilities (and some limitations) for business development of the coastalbased industries in Agder. The business opportunities are considered within five categories (i) value creation based on harvesting of marine organisms, (ii) value creation based on aquaculture, (iii) value creation based on ocean ranching and feeding wild caught organisms, (iv) value creation based on ecosystem restoration and (v) value creation based on tourism.