The performance of exclusive economic zones the case of Norway

Abstract

Norway is a significant beneficiary of the changes in the global ocean regime conferring sovereign rights over natural resources in the oceans to coastal states. With the introduction of an Economic Zone (EZ) (1977)1 and the zones around the Svalbard and Jan Mayen islands, the ocean area under Norwegian jurisdiction increased to more than two million square kilometres, or about six times its land territory. The natural resources in these areas are crucial to the countrys economy. Petroleum revenue accounts for nearly 60% of its exports by value, fisheries for approximately 6%. The performance of the oceans management regime is however not dictated by concerns for conservation and resource use alone. Norways oceans management functions within the broader context of North Atlantic security politics (Orheim, 2001). An important feature of the Norwegian Economic Zone regime is its international orientation. A number of pollution-related problems originate outside the Norwegian EEZ. Living marine resources often straddle the boundaries of neighbouring countries EEZs and international waters, necessitating international cooperation in their management. At the same time, with a population of only 4.5 million people, the domestic market is small and most of the production based on natural resources has to be exported. More than 90% of the fish landed is exported, to more than 150 countries.2 The Norwegian marine sector is therefore crucially dependent upon international cooperation in resource management and careful handling of international trade issues.