Report | March 5, 2020
Protecting the North Sea: Norway
The Norwegian waters of the North Sea represent an exceptional enclave of marine biodiversity in the region, with an array of ecological features that distinguish it from the rest of the North Sea. In particular, the Norwegian Trench (also known as the Norwegian Deep) – which reaches depths of roughly 700 m – represents the deepest part of the otherwise shallow North Sea. As a result, these waters are home to a variety of deep-sea habitats, such as ecologically valuable bamboo coral gardens and deep-sponge aggregations, which are not found elsewhere in the region. Other important and productive ecosystems are found in shallower waters along the coast, such as kelp forests and eelgrass meadows, which support a diversity of associated species.
While the biodiversity richness of Norwegian waters has been repeatedly recognised, research efforts to characterise and map marine life on the seabed have primarily focused on regions other than the North Sea and Skagerrak. At the same time, protection of North Sea waters also remains low in Norway – a mere 1.3% – and information is needed to inform conservation and management in the Norwegian North Sea, both within the Norwegian Trench and in surrounding areas. In order to help address this lack of information, Oceana conducted two at-sea research expeditions during the summer of 2016 and 2017, to gather data about benthic species and communities. Surveys were conducted mainly through visual (non-intrusive) methods (filming via a remotely operated vehicle and professional divers), and were complemented with seabed grab sampling of infauna, and seabed mapping with a multibeam echosounder.
In total, 18 habitats and 801 taxa were recorded, including reef-forming and engineer species (such as soft corals, sponges, and foraminifera) that increase habitat complexity and attract associated fauna, as well as a range of commercial species that have spawning and/or nursery areas in the Norwegian Trench. Among the valuable marine features documented were 39 species and nine habitat types that are considered priorities for conservation, because they are listed under national or international frameworks. These conservation priorities include habitats and species that by law must be protected. The most noteworthy habitat found was a forest of Endangered bamboo coral (Isidella lofotensis); Oceana’s research provided the first‑ever in situ footage of this threatened habitat in North Sea waters, where it should be urgently protected.
Considering these findings and the current low level of protection of Norwegian waters, it is clear that Norway must increase marine spatial protection in order to comply with international and national laws and commitments. Oceana recommends that new marine protected areas be designated in both shallow and deep-water areas, to safeguard threatened species and habitats, areas of essential fish habitat, and vulnerable marine ecosystems. Critically, given the high level of human pressure on Norwegian North Sea waters, these protected areas must be effectively managed to minimise ongoing threats to marine life. Oceana also urges Norway to dedicate resources to studying the habitats and species of the Norwegian Trench, in line with efforts that have been made in other regions of the country. Such research is likely to identify other key areas and features that deserve and require conservation action.
A high resolution version of this report can be downloaded here.
