ABSTRACT
This book, titled “Managing Marine Plastic Pollution in Norway: Sustainable Circular Economy Solutions for Fisheries and Aquaculture,” addresses the urgent issue of plastic pollution affecting the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, using Norway as a case study. Norway’s leadership in international plastic treaty negotiations, its compliance with European Union (EU) environmental policies through the European Economic Agreement (EEA) agreement, and the implementation of circular economy strategies and policies, including Extended Producer Responsibility for managing plastics in fisheries and aquaculture, underscore the relevance of this work. This book examines Norway’s ongoing and planned measures to combat plastic waste, offering guidance on the sustainable practices that can be implemented within its fisheries and aquaculture industries. It highlights the challenges posed by the increasing reliance on plastic materials in these sectors, particularly as aquaculture continues to expand in response to rising global seafood demand. Through the insights gained from the Shift-Plastics project—a transdisciplinary initiative focused on creating sustainable circular value chains—this introductory chapter offers valuable guidance for this book’s step-wise and holistic approach to managing plastics in fisheries and aquaculture by identifying the research gaps and identifying how the individual chapter contributes to creating the foundation for a sustainable circular economy, ultimately reducing plastic pollution from fisheries and aquaculture.
