Application of multi criteria analysis in coastal zones in Norway: A tool for development of compromise solutions for different uses.

In Norway, with about 80% of the people living within 10 km from the shore, there is a strong concentration of economic activities in the coastal zone. The aquaculture sector alone is currently expanding with some 10 to 15% per year. As the coastal zone i s also an important area for cultural and recreational activities, and for the conservation of biodiversity, this is increasingly leading to conflicts. It is widely recognised that the present economic models cannot be expected to sufficiently reflect the different non-economic interests. Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA) has been acknowledged as an appropriate tool for the involvement of both economic and non-economic interests in decision making, and to plan the allocation of economic and natural resources in the coastal zone in a participatory and sustainable way. The main purpose of this project is to develop an appropriate, MCA-based tool to support integrated coastal zone management in Norway. This tool would allow the enhanced participation of stakeholders, and the inclusion of economic, social and ecological i nterests in the decision making processes. The MCA method will be developed on the basis of existing MCA models, taking into account the specific requirements of integrated coastal zone management in Norway. Subsequently, the method will be tested and val idated in three selected coastal areas in Norway with different conflicts between productive and non-productive uses, and the potential strengths and weaknesses of applying MCA will be evaluated (see Appendix 1).