OIL EXPLORATION IN THE ARCTIC - LOFOTEN ISLANDS, NORWAY

Epicentre of great arctic cod fishery - shaped island society
1. This may soon be diminished by oil
Norweigan oil production peaked at 3.4m barrels/day in 2001 and has been declining since
1. Oil production key to the economy and to keep interest amongst investors, exploration areas must be opened
  1. Petroleum industry employs about 80000 people
  2. Accounts for quarter of Norweigan GDP, quarter of state income, and half of all exports
  3. People are leaving Lofoten Islands for better jobs elsewhere - population declining
20% of Norweigan Shelf's remaining reserves could be in the area
1. Statoil estimates 2bn barrels
Many of the 25000 residents are against the prospect
1. Area renowned for its natural beauty and biological diversity
2. Oil and gas activity has catastrophic potential to harm cold water ecosystems
3. Costs would be suffered by islanders, whereas most of benefits will go to other Norweigan areas
4. TOURISM INDUSTRY
  1. Tourism in 2009 reached £141m
  2. Trekking, kayaking, whale watching activities could be impacted by oil spillages, unsightly infrastructure, threat to fisheries
  3. WHY PUT FISHING AND TOURISM INDUSTRIES AT RISK FOR AN INDUSTRY THATS BOUND TO END ANYWAY?

Resource summary

	Created by beth.nightingale about 11 years ago