Norway oil licence policy is under fresh scrutiny after the government offered new petroleum production licences that, according to NRK reporting, overlap with key feeding habitat for the Atlantic puffin (lundefugl) in the North Sea.
The controversy centres on parts of the APA 2025 (Awards in Predefined Areas) round, in which the Ministry of Energy (Energidepartementet) offered 57 production licences across the Norwegian continental shelf. Critics say at least 11 licences sit wholly or partly within Norway’s “particularly valuable and vulnerable areas” (SVO), including zones where sandeel (tobis)—a “key species” in the North Sea food web—spends much of its life in sandy seabed.
Why sandeel matters for puffins and other seabirds
Sandeel is small, but it sits near the base of the marine food chain. In Norwegian waters, it is an important prey species for seabirds and fish, including puffins, which often return to colonies with sandeel in their beaks during the breeding season.
In 2025, Norwegian authorities halted sandeel fishing in Norway’s economic zone following scientific advice that biomass was critically low. That backdrop has sharpened the argument that additional industrial pressure—especially on the seabed—could amplify ecological stress in areas that already show signs of decline.
What NRK says the new Norway oil licence covers
NRK reported that the government offered two new production licences that overlap with sandeel habitat in the North Sea. Environmental authorities, according to the same reporting, warned the Ministry of Energy that establishing petroleum activity in sandeel areas would affect the seabed and the water column, and that an accidental oil spill would carry environmental risk.
The broader dataset reviewed by NRK also points to overlaps in other sea basins. The same licensing round includes blocks linked to cold-water coral ecosystems in the Norwegian Sea and to important seabird feeding areas in the Barents Sea, where a spill could have wide consequences along the coast.
What “particularly valuable and vulnerable areas” means in Norway
SVO status is designed to signal where extra caution is required because an area plays a significant role for biodiversity and biological production. It is not automatically a prohibition on commercial activity.
In practice, the system is meant to ensure that decisions on fisheries, shipping, petroleum and other sectors are weighed against ecosystem functions described in Norway’s integrated ocean management plans.
The government’s argument: strict regulation, no automatic drilling
Energy Minister Terje Aasland has defended the APA 2025 awards by stressing that petroleum activity is strictly regulated and cannot proceed without further permits and approvals.
The government’s position is that SVO status does not constitute a ban, but that it triggers stronger requirements and closer scrutiny the more vulnerable an area is. In official statements, the ministry has framed new licensing as part of maintaining activity and investment on the continental shelf as production is expected to decline in the coming years.
What happens next for the licences and the seabird debate
The next steps will depend on work programmes and on later approvals for concrete activity, such as seismic surveys and drilling. Even so, opponents argue that offering licences in sensitive areas sends a political signal that Norway is still willing to expand the future pipeline of oil and gas projects.
The clash over sandeel habitat is likely to intensify because it links three agendas that are increasingly difficult to separate in Nordic and European debates: nature protection, climate policy, and energy security. For Norway, the question is not only how much petroleum activity continues, but where it takes place—and what risks are deemed acceptable in ecosystems that are already under pressure.
