North Sea Forecast
Explore the most likely future of the North Sea towards 2050
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This report provides a holistic, cross-sectoral outlook for the North Sea to 2050, emphasizing collaboration and synergies among seafood, energy, and shipping industries.
The North Sea is a cornerstone of Europe's economy, food, and energy security. As the busiest sea basin in Europe, it requires careful management to balance its wealth with environmental health.
Our forecast indicates that the energy transition will drive economic diversification in the North Sea, with offshore wind revenues expected to rival those of oil and gas. We predict that the region will remain Europe's leading offshore wind hub, with ports well-positioned to scale new maritime fuels.
Marine spatial planning is crucial as offshore wind capacity is set to grow six-fold by 2050, necessitating a balance between renewable energy, seafood production, shipping, and nature conservation. Significant investment in maritime infrastructure is needed to overcome supply chain bottlenecks and meet global demand for construction vessels.
While the demand for seafood will increase, continued good management practices will keep the North Sea's fisheries' catch volumes stable towards 2050. While Norway and the UK will expand their aquaculture sectors, most seafood will continue to come from fisheries. The aquaculture sector is expected to adopt new technologies to address fish health and environmental concerns.
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