Work

Growing pains in upscaling: A constructive technology assessment of sea lice treatment innovations in the stagnating Norwegian aquaculture regime

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Innovations that scale up, often have unintended, adverse effects. Dealing with adverse effects is especially challenging in bioeconomy transitions, in which the large-scale deployment of innovations may generate severe environmental damages. This study looks at the case of Norwegian aquaculture which has been embraced as a model to revitalize rural livelihoods and foster regional development in coastal areas, but currently faces stagnation. The main cause for the industry’s stagnating development is a parasitic sea lice, which treatments have adverse effects on ecology and fish welfare. We perform a Constructive Technology Assessment (CTA) involving diverse stakeholders in a Multi-Criteria Mapping (MCM) exercise on the viability, opportunities, and risks of different treatment options to cope with sea lice in Norwegian aquaculture. We find that this method is well-suited to identify diverse anticipatory views on possible solutions to the sea lice problem, allowing decision-makers to identify more democratic, holistic, and sustainable pathways to upscale the bioeconomy.

Source: Progress in Economic Geography

DOI: 10.1016/j.peg.2024.100030

Authors: Casper Friederich, Matthijs Mouthaan, Koen Frenken

Institution: Utrecht University

Language: English

Topic: Bioeconomy and Sustainability Development

Subfield: General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Life below water, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,400