Multi-scalar legitimation dynamics in sectoral reconfigurations: The case of aquaculture in Norway

Climate change and ecosystem decline make rapid sustainability transitions imperative, yet many sectors remain on incremental paths. This paper examines how multi-scalar legitimation dynamics help explain this inertia in the Norwegian salmon aquaculture sector. Combining a geography of sustainability transitions perspective with socio-technical configuration analysis and expert interviews, we analyse the (de-)legitimation dynamics around four competing salmon production technologies (conventional open net pens, semi-closed systems, land-based systems and offshore systems) in the period 2014–2023. Using 496 newspaper articles and nine expert interviews, we trace how environmental, economic and social narratives are mobilised across local, national and global scales to promote a given configuration while de-legitimizing others. The results show that the incumbent (open net-pen) configuration’s legitimacy weakened over time, while semi-closed systems built a solid multi-scalar legitimacy base by addressing environmental problems without undermining coastal employment opportunities. In contrast, land-based and offshore systems are legitimized through global innovation and sustainability promises but remain weakly anchored domestically and locally contested. We argue that configurations combining a broad portfolio of legitimacy claims with narrative alignment across spatial scales and a strong territorially rooted legitimacy base have higher chances for broad uptake in sectors like aquaculture, that depend on specific natural resource systems. The paper advances debates in economic geography and transition studies by demonstrating how uneven, place-specific, and multi-scalar legitimacy struggles shape the pace and direction of sectoral transformation.