FourSalmon

The Arctic is richly endowed with resources, which presents both challenges and opportunities for the Northern communities. Intensive aquaculture is a relatively new industry that has become important for regional development in some rural areas. There is also a general expectation of further growth.
However, there are challenges both related to environmental and social impacts of the industry. The sustainability of the industry therefore has to be ensured to maintain the integrity and resilience of the socio-ecological system (SES). This underlines the need for a knowledge-based governance system that are able to take the various aspects of salmon farming into consideration. As salmon farming represents an intensification of industrial activity in Northern and Arctic areas, there is an urgent need for comprehensive knowledge of how to govern the environmental and social aspects of this development. The aim of this project is to study how governance of environmental and social impacts of salmon farming development in Canada, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Norway is organized and carried out. The comparison and synthesizing of knowledge on governance systems within the involved countries will provide new insights to the authorities, aquaculture industry, researchers and other stakeholders, and thereby strengthen the development of sustainable approaches to industrial expansion in the North.

Funded by: The Fram Centre, Norway.