Treading Water: Climate Risk Perception and Institutional Response in Norwegian Salmon Aquaculture
(2025) In IIIEE Master Thesis IMEM01 20251The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
- Abstract (Swedish)
- Climate change adaptation (CCA) has become a prominent topic as the global environment changes. Increased extreme weather events, changes in microclimates and local ecosystems necessitate a change in current production methods, particularly within the food industry. Aquaculture, which provides over 50% of the global seafood, is particularly vulnerable to climate change. That includes Norway, the world’s largest producer of Atlantic salmon. While the Global North has thus far experienced fewer direct impacts, firms in these regions, will increasingly face climate-related risks. This study investigates how Norwegian sea-based aquaculture firms are addressing CCA and the factors that influence their responses. It explores which risks are... (More)
- Climate change adaptation (CCA) has become a prominent topic as the global environment changes. Increased extreme weather events, changes in microclimates and local ecosystems necessitate a change in current production methods, particularly within the food industry. Aquaculture, which provides over 50% of the global seafood, is particularly vulnerable to climate change. That includes Norway, the world’s largest producer of Atlantic salmon. While the Global North has thus far experienced fewer direct impacts, firms in these regions, will increasingly face climate-related risks. This study investigates how Norwegian sea-based aquaculture firms are addressing CCA and the factors that influence their responses. It explores which risks are prioritized by stakeholders and the tools available for adaptation.
Using semi-structured interviews and document analysis, various stakeholders were interviewed to provide a comprehensive view. The findings are analyzed through the lens of risk management, institutional theory and institutional inertia. Uncertainty emerged as the most significant barrier to CCA implementation. The grow-out phase was found to be particularly vulnerable, where increased sea lice outbreaks are already having significant impact. A lack of data and foresight regarding climate outcomes contributes to firms' reluctance to invest in adaptation efforts. Misaligned time horizons further exacerbate this, as firms focus on short-term operations while governments and researchers adopt a long-term perspective.
This study found that firms are largely focused on immediate risks and day-to-day operations, and holistic enterprise risk management is currently lacking. Stakeholders highlighted coercive and normative pressures as the most influential for surpassing this inertia. To reduce uncertainty knowledge sharing is an essential step, both across the sector and with research institutions. Firms can be incentivized to prioritize CCA through enhanced collaboration with the research community and the establishment of clear regulatory guidelines. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9209488
- author
- Jónsdóttir, Elísabet LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- IMEM01 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Climate Change Adaptation, Sea farm aquaculture, Atlantic Salmon, Norway, Risk management
- publication/series
- IIIEE Master Thesis
- report number
- 2025:05
- ISSN
- 1401-9191
- language
- English
- id
- 9209488
- date added to LUP
- 2025-08-12 14:14:29
- date last changed
- 2025-08-12 14:14:29
@misc{9209488,
abstract = {{Climate change adaptation (CCA) has become a prominent topic as the global environment changes. Increased extreme weather events, changes in microclimates and local ecosystems necessitate a change in current production methods, particularly within the food industry. Aquaculture, which provides over 50% of the global seafood, is particularly vulnerable to climate change. That includes Norway, the world’s largest producer of Atlantic salmon. While the Global North has thus far experienced fewer direct impacts, firms in these regions, will increasingly face climate-related risks. This study investigates how Norwegian sea-based aquaculture firms are addressing CCA and the factors that influence their responses. It explores which risks are prioritized by stakeholders and the tools available for adaptation.
Using semi-structured interviews and document analysis, various stakeholders were interviewed to provide a comprehensive view. The findings are analyzed through the lens of risk management, institutional theory and institutional inertia. Uncertainty emerged as the most significant barrier to CCA implementation. The grow-out phase was found to be particularly vulnerable, where increased sea lice outbreaks are already having significant impact. A lack of data and foresight regarding climate outcomes contributes to firms' reluctance to invest in adaptation efforts. Misaligned time horizons further exacerbate this, as firms focus on short-term operations while governments and researchers adopt a long-term perspective.
This study found that firms are largely focused on immediate risks and day-to-day operations, and holistic enterprise risk management is currently lacking. Stakeholders highlighted coercive and normative pressures as the most influential for surpassing this inertia. To reduce uncertainty knowledge sharing is an essential step, both across the sector and with research institutions. Firms can be incentivized to prioritize CCA through enhanced collaboration with the research community and the establishment of clear regulatory guidelines.}},
author = {{Jónsdóttir, Elísabet}},
issn = {{1401-9191}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
series = {{IIIEE Master Thesis}},
title = {{Treading Water: Climate Risk Perception and Institutional Response in Norwegian Salmon Aquaculture}},
year = {{2025}},
}