Challenges and Myths in Norwegian Coastal Zone Management

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Abstract
Coastal Zone Management must address situations that are inherently complex, diverse, dynamic, and risky. What management systems are best able to handle such challenges? What ambitions are realistic for coastal zone managers? This article reflects on Norway's coastal zone management experience. In particular, we dwell with the tendency to postpone, or even neglect, making the hard decisions and to rationalize non-decision by referring to some beliefs or myths regarding the situation in the coastal zone, variously that (a) space is no limitation, (b) spatial delimitation is all it takes, and (c) coastal culture will always self-heal. Finally, we argue that risk-management may be a more fruitful/realistic management ambition than aiming for some positively defined goals.