Hunting, trapping and fishing

You must have passed the hunter's proficiency test and be registered in the Norwegian Register of Hunters to hunt in Svalbard.

People who are permanently resident abroad do not need to take the hunter's proficiency test if they can document that they meet the conditions for conducting similar hunting in their home country. Foreign hunters who will hunt in Svalbard must be registered in the Norwegian Register of Hunters.

You must have a personal card/permit to fish and hunt. You can only obtain this at www.inatur.no.

Hunters must remember to bring a hunting license, shooting test certificate, weapon license and identification that must be shown to the hunting inspector.

To be able to hunt in Svalbard, you must have completed the mandatory hunting proficiency course and passed the hunting proficiency test. The Longyearbyen Hunting and Fishing Association arranges hunting proficiency courses. Contact LJFF about hunting proficiency courses here: http://www.ljff.info/

The Governor arranges the hunting proficiency test annually. Those who have completed the mandatory course and paid the examination fee can register for the examination at www.jegerproveeksamen.no.

The examination fee must be paid at the Governor's office before registration.

Mammals

Birds

Svalbard reindeer hunting is reserved for permanent residents in Svalbard. Both visitors and permanent residents can hunt bearded seals and ringed seals.

Application for hunting Svalbard reindeer (iNatur)

Hunting license for seals (iNatur)

To hunt seals and reindeer, you must, in addition to having passed a hunting proficiency test, show documentation of a validly passed big game test (shooting test). The shooting test must be taken with the same weapon that will be hunted with. Proof of an approved shooting test must be taken on the hunt to be shown to the hunting inspector.

For hunting Svalbard reindeer and seals, only rifles and hunting ammunition with expanding projectiles may be used. For ammunition with a bullet weight between 9 and 10 grams, the impact energy must be at least 2700 joules (275 kgm) measured at a distance of 100 meters. For ammunition with a bullet weight of 10 grams or more, the impact energy must be at least 2200 joules (225 kgm) measured at a distance of 100 meters.

Maps (PDF)

Reindeer hunting areas in Svalbard (overview map)

Detailed map of all reindeer hunting areas

Permanent residents can shoot up to 10 ptarmigans per day, while visitors can shoot a total of five ptarmigans per season. Both visitors and permanent residents can hunt black guillemots, fulmars and pink-footed geese without any number restrictions.

Both shotguns and rifles can be used to hunt birds. When hunting pink-footed geese with a rifle, ammunition with an impact energy of at least 294 joules (30 kgm) at 100 meters must be used.

Hunting permits can be purchased at Inatur.

Fox trapping is reserved for permanent residents of Svalbard, who must apply to be allocated terrain. The hunting season is from November to March.

Application for fox trapping (Inatur)

Legal traps are the Svalbardfella and the traditional fallemmen. The Svalbardfella must have a minimum strike angle of 60 degrees and a minimum 8 mm strike spring. The Longyearbyen Hunting and Fishing Association rents out fox traps. Traps to be used must be approved annually by the Governor.

Foxes can be hunted with a shotgun and rifle within the terrain the hunter has been allocated. When hunting with a rifle, ammunition with an impact energy of at least 294 joules (30 kgm) at 100 meters must be used.

Trapping of arctic foxes is regulated by regulations on harvesting in Svalbard. You are required to have knowledge of these rules before hunting.

Maps (PDF)

Trapping areas Nordenskiöld Land - overview map

Detailed map fox trapping area 1-10

Detailed map fox trapping area 11-19

Detailed map fox trapping area 20-23

Trapping areas at Ny-Ålesund - overview map

Permanent residents can fish with nets for Arctic char in saltwater and lakes in accordance with the provisions of the char regulations.

Both permanent residents and visitors can fish with rods and jigging equipment where the char regulations allow for it and until the seasonal quotas are filled.

See the char regulations for quotas and in which lakes fishing for char is permitted.

Fishing licenses can be purchased on Inatur's website.

It is required to submit a hunting, trapping and fishing license in Svalbard. If you have obtained a hunting, trapping or fishing license, you must submit a catch report.

Reindeer hunting
The catch report from the reindeer hunt must be submitted digitally either in the app "Settogskutt" or at the deer register: hjorteviltregisteret.no. Remember to report to the correct hunting area (Sassen, Colesdalen, etc.)

If you experience problems using the deer register or the app Settogskutt, you can contact Naturdata as at support@naturdata.no or by phone at 74 33 53 10.

In addition, you must submit the felling permit (control card) regardless of whether you have hunted reindeer or not.

Other hunting
All other hunting must be reported via Inatur.no

Remember to submit ptarmigan wings in the assigned box outside the Svalbard science centre.

Rabies has been detected in animals in Svalbard since 1980.

Rabies is a fatal disease for humans and warm-blooded animals and occurs in Svalbard. The disease can be prevented through vaccination, but it cannot be treated after the infected person has developed clinical symptoms.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health recommends that everyone who will come into contact with wild animals in Svalbard is vaccinated.

Hunters
Hunters must take rabies into account when planning and carrying out hunting and handling slaughter. Everyone who participates in hunting in Svalbard should be fully vaccinated against rabies.

People with a weakened immune system may have an uncertain effect of the vaccine and should not participate in hunting.

Only animals that are behaving normally should be hunted. Avoid animals that do not show fear of people, wander aimlessly, are disoriented, appear sick, paralyzed or partially paralyzed.

Slaughter from visibly sick animals, or animals with unusual behaviour, should not be handled.

If hunters observe sick animals or animals with abnormal behaviour, this must be reported to the Governor so that they can consider whether the animal should be killed and examined for rabies. This must be reported to the Governor's hotline: +47 79 02 12 22.

Regardless of whether you have previously been vaccinated, anyone who is exposed to an infectious agent must contact the health service as soon as possible. There is every reason to remember that rabies is a fatal disease.

Remember good hygiene during slaughter. It is important to have good protective equipment, such as eye protection and good gloves to avoid cuts and splashes.

It is not permitted to import meat and meat products from Svalbard to the mainland, such as meat that can be purchased in stores.

An exception to the ban is made for game meat from hunting in Svalbard. It is permitted to bring up to five (5) kilograms of game meat per person.