Blue growth in Norway – Three emerging narratives

Blue growth, often hailed as a panacea and a win-win situation for sustainable development and marine resource governance, is a fluid concept open to interpretation. Norway, with its extensive coastline, rich maritime history, and significant oil reserves, ranks among the world’s wealthiest nations. As the world grapples with climate and environmental changes, the quest for environmentally friendly solutions intensifies. Aquaculture, especially the farming of salmon, is one such alternative. However, this industry also poses environmental challenges. This paper critically examines the discourse around blue growth as it appears in Norwegian national policy documents related to coastal zone planning. A practice-oriented method is employed, considering both the content and physical context of documents as fieldwork sites and narrative sources. Three main narratives appear: sustainable development through planning, green transition, and blue growth as a means of positioning Norway. The dominant interpretations of blue growth narratives often prioritize the agendas of ministries, framing blue growth as a versatile concept that various stakeholders can strategically exploit. This analysis argues that narratives such as “planning leading to sustainability” and the “green transition” are constructed to bolster and legitimize the idea of “Norway as a leading nation” in ocean governance. These narratives, along with the knowledge they generate, are used to advance political agendas, justify policies, and promote initiatives that enhance exports, drive economic growth, and expand political influence. This paper contends that politicians must prioritize protecting oceans and seas to achieve truly sustainable blue growth. • Greening Norwegian Aquaculture: Three narratives. • Coastal Zone Planning: A key to secure blue growth. • Belief in Coastal Planning: For balance and sustainability. • Global Politics & Green Transition: Growth opportunities. • Aiming for Global Leadership: Upholding economy and role.