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April 4, 2005
Save the Lofoten Islands!
Clean and healthy oceans are essential for our planets survival. The Lofoten and Barents Sea areas are among the last relatively pristine marine habitats on Earth. Millions of seabirds nest and breed in this ocean area, and numerous species of fish, marine mammals and a diverse array of bottom-dwelling life including unique deep-water corals are to be found living in these waters. The Norwegian-Arctic cod stock is the last remaining large, healthy cod stock in the world. But unless action is taken to protect this unique environment, it is likely to be destroyed. The region is under threat from over-fishing, increasing risk of oil tanker accidents and the oil industrys desire for new drilling grounds in highly sensitive areas.
According to the FAO, up to 70% of global commercial fish stocks are already wiped out or threatened . In addition, oil drilling, dangerous shipping traffic, seismic testing and trawling on the seabed are creating deserts under the waves. While 12% of the Norwegian landmass has protected area status, less than one percent of the Norwegian ocean areas are protected. The same applies to most ocean areas in the world. At the moment, destructive activities are allowed at sea that would be deemed criminal on land.
Greenpeace believes that the time has come for governments to begin establishing serious protection mechanisms for marine habitats in the same way that they have been doing on land for decades already. A global network of marine reserves is needed if we are to halt the current decline in marine degradation and fish stock depletion. In Norway, there is a process underway which aims to draw up an Integrated Management Plan for the Barents Sea and Lofoten region. This presents us with a unique opportunity to improve upon an ongoing political process by informing people about the need for better marine management and applying sufficient pressure on the decision makers to come up with a plan that affords real marine protection.
The Greenpeace ship, Esperanza, will tour Lofoten throughout April, where we aim to engage and motivate local communities to put their foot down and demand a stop to oil tankers passing close inshore, a stop to planned oil exploration, drilling and oilfield development, and a stop to the factory fishing fleets that are plundering the coastal spawning grounds and coral-rich areas. We need better marine protection in this area that is so heavily dependent on the ocean for its livelihood. Coastal communities in Norway are being increasingly marginalized and ignored by a government that instead favours the interests of large oil and fishing corporations with their environmentally threatening activities. We aim to make sure that the voice of these communities is heard by the Norwegian Government. So follow these pages over the next few weeks and watch as our tour to save the magnificent and vulnerable Lofoten area unfolds.
Oil companies pressure for access
Increased oil tanker traffic and lack of emergency plans
Over-fishing, factory fishing and bottom trawling
An Integrated Management Plan for Lofoten and Barents Sea: An opportunity that must not be lost
Posted by Irene at April 4, 2005 7:32 PM