Ecosystem Services

The coastal areas, which extend up to one nautical mile outside the baseline, house rich
ecosystems, both at the bottom and in the water column above – the pelagic. Inputs of
nutrients from land, the shallow areas that receive light from the sun, and the stirring
of water layers in different seasons are conditions that make the coast highly productive
compared to the deeper waters further out. The bloom of phytoplankton in the
spring provides large quantities of food for small unicellular and multicellular organisms,
including ciliates and copepods. These in turn are eaten by predators such as zooplankton,
fish and jellyfish, but also by polychaetas, clams and other animals that live
on the sea floor. Kelp and seaweed grow on hard substrate, forming marine forests that
dominate the part of the seabed that receives sunlight. These forests provide food,
breeding- and feeding places for a myriad of other species of algae, large and small
crustaceans, snails and fish. Mollusks, crustaceans and polychaetas hide in the vegetation
and are food for fish both inside and outside the kelp forest. Many fish species live
their entire lives on the coast, while others come to the coast to eat or spawn. The great
access to food forms the basis for life of rich populations of seabirds, seals and whales
along the coast, and these populations are completely dependent on the coastal ecosystem
in order to survive.
2.1 The North Sea and Skagerrak
The North Sea and Skagerrak region is one of Scandinavia’s most intensively exploited
seas and is among the world’s busiest sailing areas. The use of the seas creates great
values for the Norwegian and Swedish societies. The North Sea is particularly productive
and supports extensive fishing, from small coastal fishing vessels to huge trawls,
and at the same time Skagerrak is particularly important for small scale fisheries.
Many different activities with several conflicting interests create challenges for the
management. The main industrial activities in these waters are currently fisheries, shipping
and petroleum industry as well as tourism. The majority of the Norwegian oil and
gas production takes place in the North Sea. Other industries include possible future
offshore energy, marine bioprospecting and mineral exploration on the seabed (Meld.
St. 37, 2012–2013, HVMFS 2012:19).
Sea and coast has great importance for recreation, outdoor activities, and tourism in
Scandinavia. The coastline is very attractive and widely used by Scandinavians and their
tourists (Naturvårdsverket 2008). Coastal and marine environment is important for sport
in that it provides adventure value, as it is a place to exercise activities, providing health
effects, thus making it an important basis for local and national economic activity through
Ecosystem Services 31