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STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE RAET NATIONAL MARINE PARK (SOUTHERN NORWAY)
Foreword
The Raet National Marine Park, on the south coast
of Norway, is the newest addition to Norway’s marine
protected area network. It is an area of great natural
beauty, with a vast variety of plant life, animal life and
geology. It is also an area with a rich cultural history
and historical significance.
Marine protected areas are essential tools to ensure
healthy oceans. It is important that the management
policies of these vulnerable and valuable areas are
based on the best scientific information available. This
report outlines an innovative and comprehensive new
approach to support the development and evaluation
of such policies. It includes the input of marine
scientists, but also the input from the fishing industry,
the tourism industry and a range of other stakeholders.
In bringing a large set of experts together, we also
recognize the local and traditional knowledge about
our marine environment. This report provides us with
a solid understanding of the status and trends in the
marine environment in the National Marine Park.
It is the first time this method has been applied
for state of the marine environment reporting in
Norway. The good news is that the report broadly
concludes that the Raet National Marine Park is in
good condition. However, it also points out significant
information gaps we must address, and areas where
new management measures are needed.
It is an important goal for the Norwegian government
to make sure that our environmental policies are
effective, and that any negative changes in the
environment are identified promptly. This report
makes a valuable contribution towards reaching that
goal for the Raet National Marine Park.
Vidar Helgesen
Minister of Climate and Environment