New environmental regulations enters into force on 1 January

The adopted changes not only cover the Svalbard Environment Act, but also several of the regulations that have been adopted based on the law, including conservation regulations for nature reserves and national parks, the motor traffic regulations and the camping regulations. In addition, a new regulation has been established on the assessment of infringement fees according to the Svalbard Environment Act.

Some of the adopted changes apply to everyone – regardless of whether you are a permanent resident, an individual traveller, a researcher, or engaged in tourism or field activities. Other rule changes specifically target different groups. It is important to familiarize yourself with the rule changes that apply to the activity that you intend to carry out, and to the areas that you will travel in. Below you will find an overview of some of the changes.

Camping
All camping, including commercial tourist camps and other field activities, also under the auspices of research and education activities now require a permit from the Governor. For permanent residents and individual travellers, a similar requirement applies when camping in the same place for a week or more.

Applications must be submitted to the Governor no later than four weeks before the planned camping trip. Researchers can apply via the application form in the RIS portal. The guide for researchers in Svalbard is updated and is found here: https://www.sysselmesteren.no/en/researchers/guidelines-for-researchers-in-svalbard/

Camping that requires an application to the Governor must be secured with an alert and organized polar bear guard when there are people in the camp.

Use of drones
Both the Svalbard Environmental Act and the conservation regulations have new rules regarding the use of drones. From 1 April to 31 August, it is not permitted to fly drones closer than 500 metres from bird cliffs, and in protected areas there is a general ban on the use of drones.

Boat traffic
The Motor Traffic Regulations have included provisions on speed limits and distance requirements for walrus haul-sites and bird cliffs. When travelling at sea, you must keep at least 150 meters from walrus haul-sites. If you drive closer than 300 meters to the haul-sites, you cannot drive faster than 5 knots.

At bird cliffs, a corresponding speed limit of 5 knots applies during the period from April 1 to August 31 if you are closer than 500 meters from land. The bird cliffs to which this applies are shown on a map that is attached to the Motor Traffic Regulations.

A general ban on breaking fast ice has also been introduced. In the national parks, a maximum number of 200 passengers has been imposed on boats calling at sea.

Snowmobile Traffic
A ban on motorized traffic on sea ice has been introduced after March 1 on selected fjords. The regulations are somewhat different for permanent residents and visitors, and the rules are illustrated through maps that can be found as an appendix to the motorized traffic regulations: https://lovdata.no/dokument/LTI/forskrift/2024-02-06-225

Polar bear protection
The provision in the Svalbard Environmental Act establishes a general prohibition against unnecessarily disturbing, attracting or pursuing polar bears. In addition, distance requirements have been introduced, and one must keep at least 300 meters away from bears. In the period from March 1 to June 30, one must keep at least 500 meters away. If one discovers a bear at close range, one is obliged to retreat. The obligation to retreat does not apply in inhabited areas, when staying at research stations, cabins, tents or similar facilities.

The requirement for knowledge, security and suitable deterrents is continued in the new provision.

Landing regulation
A landing regulation has been introduced for tourist activities in all protected areas except for the Nordre Isfjorden and Sassen-Bünsow Land national parks, and protected areas where there is already a traffic ban, such as bird nature reserves.

The regulation means that landing for tourist activities can only take place at specific, mapped locations. In addition, landing and stay on land can only take place together with a guide with knowledge of the natural and cultural environment. The regulation also regulates how many people can be on land at the same time. See map on the right for locations. 

The landing regulation does not apply to permanent residents, individual travellers and researchers unless they participate in tourist activities.