On behalf of the Norwegian Environment Agency, SALT and the Institute of Marine Research have prepared a knowledge synthesis on the effects of marine protected areas (MPAs) on ecosystem function and the potential for harvesting in surrounding areas.

Based on the White Paper “A Coherent National Plan for the Conservation of Important Areas for Marine Nature”, the Norwegian government has expressed a clear objective to strengthen knowledge about the effects of MPAs in Norway. Against this background, a knowledge synthesis has been commissioned to assess the impacts of MPAs on ecosystem functioning and on the opportunities for harvesting living resources in adjacent areas.