Coastal areas are an especially complicated phenomenon, varied in nature and shape. Where land and sea come together, the natural elements really show their strengths. Coastal and marine areas yield 77% of the earth's resources and ecological systems. Over 40% of the earth's population lives in coastal regions.
Coastal and marine areas all around the world are especially vulnerable to problems such as pollution, destruction and toxic emissions. As coastal areas are utilised in ever more diverse ways, there is even more environmental strain. Coastal areas lie on the boundaries of land and sea and are shaped by these different worlds but are separate from the viewpoint of law and administration. Undefined ownership, responsibilities and heterogeneous utilisation all cause further strain, due in part to increasing demand for resources, population growth and increased development of coastal areas. The need for a comprehensive approach to management of these sensitive areas is urgent.
Unique knowledge
Environmental issues become ever more important in an international context. Environmentally sound businesses are becoming increasingly marketable and often have a competitive advantage. Icelandic universities, organizations, companies, and governmental bodies have a tremendous knowledge base and vast experience in the management and utilisation of marine and coastal regions. Iceland also has an already defined policy for sustainable development.
The importance of coastal and marine areas in Iceland can never be fully measured. Fisheries were and still are an essential part of Icelandic culture and economic support. As other nations have also realised, Iceland has found that the coastal and marine areas harbour immensely valuable resources. The utilisation of these areas needs to be well thought out with environmental, sociological and economic sustainability kept in mind. Iceland has been leading in that regard, for example, with the Comprehensive Fisheries Management Act of 1990 and in cooperation with multiple international agreements for the protection and conservation of coastal and marine areas.
Coastal and Marine Management in the Westfjords of Iceland
As with so many other arctic areas, the sea and the coastline have been enormously important for the Westfjords, from the beginning of settlement around the year 900 until the present day. The history of the Westfjords as well as modern day enterprises all point towards the sea. The University Centre of the Westfjords is building upon this history in addition to seeking specialized knowledge from other parts of the world. The University Centre now offers a cross-disciplinary master's program in coastal and marine management. This program is uniquely positioned in the Westfjords with all instruction held in Ísafjörður, the largest town in the region. The degree itself is conferred through the University of Akureyri, one of Iceland's state universities of Iceland.
Coastal and Marine Management is a demanding and ambitious master's program in environmental and resource management. Various methods are taught for managing marine and coastal areas based on sound economic, social and environmental principles. The content of the program is in accordance with the EU focus on coastal zones. The program prepares students for diverse and exciting positions in both the public and private sectors. Among those fields for which the master's program prepares students are resource and land use planning, environmental impact assessment, consulting work, teaching and research. The program is internationally oriented and taught in English. Students and instructors come from a diverse range of countries. The master's program in Coastal and Marine Management brings together people of different backgrounds who share their experience, knowledge, and ideas in a small-scale, creative and fertile intellectual environment, with the goal of finding ways for using natural resources in a sustainable way. All students accepted to the program will be offered an intensive three-week course in Icelandic language and culture in August, free of charge. We welcome new faces to join our exciting group of natural resource management specialists.
Student Profile
Traian C. Leu - Coastal and Marine Management student 2008-2009
“By choosing to study Coastal and Marine Management in Iceland, I hope that the knowledge gained by this region's dependency on coastal resources coupled with the expertise of many international instructors, can help me better prepare for a future in the growing field of coastal management.”
