LENKA - A nation-wide analysis of the suitability of the Norwegian coast and watercourses for aquaculture. A coastal zone management program

Abstract

A coastal zone management program called LENKA was started in 1987 and is to be terminated in 1989. The aim is to make an efficient and standardized tool for coastal zone planning, which, pertaining to law, is the responsibility of the county and municipality. The program aims to be beneficial for both the environment and for the fish farmers. Consideration is taken to all important existing utilization and judicial aspects connected to the Norwegian coastal waters. This is done by a systematic collection of all available data, systemized in such a way that they are available for future planning. A model for the evaluation of the holding capacity primarily for cage culture based on both oceanographical and topographical criteria is put forth. The coast is divided into three categories of recipient based on topography. A central clue in this model is the evaluation of indices for the quantity of aquacultural activities (measured as organic deposits into the recipient) one may have per square kilometer in differently categorized recipients.