We are currently in the Barents Sea, more precisely just outside the Goliath field. Goliath is the name of an offshore oilfield just northwest of North Cape. Two test drillings have previously been made by the oil company Eni and a third test drilling will now establish how much oil there really is. Today there are no oilrigs are in place, but very soon the rig Erik Raude will head in this direction.

This is happening despite the fact that the Barents is theoretically closed for drilling. I am trying to get my head around it: something smells rotten, and it is not fish.

THE PLAN
An integrated Management Plan for the oceanic areas off northern Norway in the Barents Sea and Lofoten is in the process of being created. It started in 2001 and it will be finalised in 2006. The aim is to manage the natural resources for coming generations, to manage the area in a sustainable way from a long term perspective, and not only about maximising the financial gain for large factory fishing fleets and the oil industry. The Barents Sea has been closed for oil drilling up until this year because of its ecological sensitivity.

The representatives involved in this process are scientists from different areas, the government, and all other stakeholders including the oil industry. At the last stakeholder meeting on the Integrated Management Plan no less than one quarter of the participants came from the oil industry and oil-related government departments. The representatives from the oil industry looked at the plan and considered where they could drill and how soon, not if.

THE CLASH
Despite the fact that the Barents Sea has been closed for drilling, and the management plan is not finalised the Norwegian government has already caved in to industry pressure and given away the rights to drill for oil in certain areas like the Goliath field.

The Goliath field also happens to be one of the most vulnerable areas in the Barents Sea: