International and cross-sectoral cooperation in the North Sea strengthened through the Greater North Sea Basin Initiative (GNSBI)
An integral, ministerial meeting was held in Antwerp on 25 November as part of the Greater North Sea Basin Initiative (GNSBI). Ministers and/or high-level representatives of the nine North Sea countries responsible for maritime spatial planning, fisheries, nature and energy gathered with the aim of signing the Ministerial Declaration, thus strengthening their mutual cooperation.
On behalf of the Netherlands, the Minister for Fishery, Food Security, Horticulture and Nature Conservation signed the Declaration. This Declaration outlines clear objectives, outcomes and the envisaged governance structure for enhanced coordination on marine conservation, fisheries and renewable energy within the GNSBI. It contains several goals, including an integral approach to spatial and ecological challenges, a long-term perspective for fisheries and marine ecosystem restoration.
The meeting took note of the technical results GNSBI has been working on over the past year and will continue to work on in the coming years. Examples include an extensive fishery study, the cumulative effects of human activities in the North Sea and an analysis to outline the necessary required actions for nature restoration in the North Sea. Several stakeholders working in the North Sea were given the opportunity to present their projects and discuss them with those present at the meeting. The Netherlands was represented in the following initiatives: the Norsaic project, Maritime Information Provision Service Point (MIVSP), The Rich North Sea, The Bonn Agreement and Oyster Heaven.
Background information
The North Sea is one of the busiest seas in the world and plays an important role for, among other things, fishing, shipping and generating wind energy at sea.
At the same time, the North Sea is also home to a rich biodiversity, which is in dire ecological state and significantly affected by human activities. Therefore, at the end of 2023, the GNSBI was established with the aim of ensuring the sustainable and responsible use of the North Sea through international and cross-sectoral cooperation.
