Norway Destinations

Stricter environmental regulations for tourism in Svalbard

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Feb 14, 2024 2:15:34 PM

#NordicNews on destinations and Norway

Norwegian government takes measures to protect Arctic wildlife and nature on Svalbard

The increase in Arctic tourism has prompted the Norwegian government to make changes to environmental regulations in Svalbard to mitigate the growing impact on endangered wildlife and nature.

"We are strengthening the protection of flora and fauna by tightening the environmental regulations in Svalbard," said the Minister for Climate and Environment, Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, after the new rules were adopted last Friday.

Around two-thirds of the archipelago is designated as protected nature reserves and national parks. Under the updated regulations, tourists will face more restrictions on where and how they can make landings.

Only 43 predefined sites allow landings, with all other areas closed to tourists. Exceptions are made for residents of the settlements of Longyearbyen, Barentsburg and Ny-Ålesund.

Other restrictions include:

A limit of 200 passengers on ships in all protected areas.
A ban on unmanned vehicles (drones) in protected areas.
A permanent ban on the use of snowmobiles and tracked vehicles on sea ice after March 1 in selected fjords, except for access to cabins.
Motorized traffic at sea may not exceed the speed limit of 5 knots at a distance of 500 meters from land outside bird cliffs in the period from 1 April to 31 August.
Motor traffic at sea must maintain a minimum distance of 150 meters from haul sites for walruses, with a speed limit of 5 knots for motor traffic within 300 meters of these sites.
A general ban on breaking solid ice, except for necessary tasks such as keeping the navigation channel to Longyearbyen and Barentsburg open, supplying Ny-Ålesund and necessary tasks by the Norwegian Coast Guard.
Stricter regulations for camping activities that require a permit.