The case in summary: The government has adopted several changes to the environmental regulations on Svalbard to take better care of the wilderness area and reduce the burden on nature and wildlife. Cruise ships may not have more than 200 passengers on board in the protected area, and tourists may only go ashore at 43 selected places in the protected area. It will be prohibited to use drones in the protected area, and a minimum distance of 150 meters to quail ross will be required. The rules will apply from 1 January 2025. The tourism industry on Svalbard has reacted strongly to the new rules. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. The government has today adopted several changes to the environmental regulations on Svalbard. The purpose is to take better care of larger wilderness areas, and reduce the burden on nature and wildlife. – We see a large and increasing pressure from tourism. If we are to be able to take care of the unique nature and wildlife on Svalbard, then we are absolutely forced to tighten up, says Climate and Environment Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen (Ap) to news. When the proposal first came to the table, the reactions from the tourism industry on Svalbard were strong. They asked for it to be withdrawn. But what they reacted to is now implemented. Svalbard is a popular destination, not least for cruise tourists. In the last 10–15 years, cruise tourism has increased sharply. In 2022, tourists disembarked at 233 different locations, according to figures from the Governor. A total of 94,982 landings were registered. Tourists from a cruise ship have gone ashore somewhere in Svalbard. Photo: Astrid Rommetveit / news Avoid pressure on untouched nature The Norwegian Environment Agency is concerned about the strain this is causing on wildlife and vulnerable arctic nature. In January last year, the directorate made its recommendations after the proposal to change the regulations had been out for consultation. The government has now concluded. In the conservation area, tourists will now be allowed to land at 43 selected locations. Today, disembarkation is not regulated, except that there is a ban on travel in some places. – The most important thing we do is to channel the traffic in the conservation area towards these 43 areas, and that means we avoid a situation where there is constant pressure on new, untouched nature. Now we ensure that it is the areas that are already burdened that are used, while the other areas are allowed to remain untouched, says Eriksen. Many tourists hope to see polar bears when they are on Svalbard. Photo: Arne Nævra – Dramatic Frigg Jørgensen is managing director of Aeco, which organizes expedition cruise operators in the Arctic. She reacts strongly to the change. – It is seen as dramatic when Norway sets aside the common law and closes more than 65 percent of the Svalbard archipelago to free movement. It is an area almost as big as Denmark, she says. Jørgensen believes that decisions related to the areas that are now closed to organized traffic, which are also open to private travellers, favor those who do not engage in organized tourism. – Now we are worried about the consequences of the new rules and how trust in the governing authorities is being weakened in tandem with such processes, she says to news: Frigg Jørgensen in Aeco. Photo: Private Leader of the Svalbard business association, Christian Skottun, is not surprised by what the government has come up with. – It is largely as expected. I feel that one leans too much on the precautionary argument, which is difficult to argue against, instead of using research and facts as a basis. I would like more experience. The most important thing now has been to get clarification and predictability. It is crucial for both the industry in Longyearbyen and the tourism industry in Svalbard to know what kind of rules we must adhere to, he says to news. Kongsfjorden at Ny-Ålesund in Svalbard. Photo: Eivind Molde / news Will have peace Daily manager of Visit Svalbard, Ronny Brunvoll, says the regulations are as expected. – There are marginal changes that have come after the consultation round. And I completely agree with what the minister says about not using untouched areas. But the area in which we can operate quality tourism, for which there is a need, is getting smaller and smaller. It worries us greatly. It goes beyond our power of attraction, he says and clarifies that he has not read everything about the change today. The leader of the Longyearbyen local council, Terje Aunevik, says that the work on the regulations has created great interest in Svalbard. – I haven’t had the chance to read everything about the regulations yet, but the perception so far is that there are few changes here from what went out to the hearing. It surprises me a little, because I perceive the input that was given to be balanced and well founded. I hope we will soon get calm and predictability around this, and that final decisions on the new regulations can contribute to that, says Aunevik to news. Nature and Youth is positive that the government is in favor of stronger protection of nature and wildlife on Svalbard. – It is time that vulnerable nature is prioritized over tourism and profit, and this is a step in the right direction. We would like a total ban on cruise traffic to Svalbard, but hope that the government’s decision lays down guidelines for further protection and reduced burden on nature and species diversity on Svalbard, says Magnus Stenroos, central board member of Nature and Youth. Tourists on land in Ny-Ålesund a few years ago. Photo: Arne Egil Tønset / news Understands the objections The Minister understands the tourism industry’s objections from the consultation round, but thinks it is a good solution to channel the traffic to 43 selected locations. Climate and Environment Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB – I think that in this way we make good arrangements to ensure that the pressure does not become greater than nature can tolerate, while at the same time we avoid a situation where more and more areas are burdened. Now they can lie untouched, says Eirksen. And he adds: – The tourist industry is important, and it lives by showcasing the untouched, fantastic nature and wildlife we have on Svalbard. Getting these steps taken, so that we avoid a negative spiral, where new parts of nature are constantly affected, is good for the industry in a long-term perspective. Cruise tourists on land in Svalbard. In 2022, there were more than 80 boats operating commercial tourist activities on the archipelago. Photo: Astrid Rommetveit / news Max 200 on the cruise ship Today there is no upper limit to how many passengers the cruise ship can carry when sailing in the protected area west of Svalbard. Now the rules are getting tougher. The upper limit of 200 passengers, which applies in the east, shall also apply to the protected area on the west side of the archipelago. And it will be prohibited to use drones in the protected area. The proposal on a distance limit to polar bears, the use of drones in selected birding areas and the question of fees will continue to be considered in the Storting. The Norwegian Environment Agency has proposed a requirement for a minimum distance of 500 meters from polar bears. These are the main points of the new rules which will apply from 1 January 2025. Prohibition against disembarking in protected areas except for 43 mapped areas. The disembarkation ban will apply to those who participate in tourist activities, not those who travel individually or are permanent residents. The rule of a maximum of 200 passengers on board will be extended to also apply to the protected area in the west of Svalbard. Prohibition against the use of drones in the protected area. Permanent ban on traffic on sea ice after 1 March on selected fjords. Exceptions have been made so that people can get to their cabins. Speed limit of a maximum of 5 knots within a distance of 500 meters from land outside selected bird cliffs during the period 1 April to 31 August. Distance requirements and requirements for reduced speed at berths for quail ross. When motoring at sea, a distance of at least 150 meters must be maintained from the mooring place for quail (with the exception of necessary access to harbours, buildings, etc.) and one must not maintain a speed higher than 5 knots closer than 300 meters from the mooring place for quail. Prohibition against breaking fast ice, with the exception of keeping the fairway to the ports of Longyearbyen and Barentsburg open, securing supplies to Ny-Ålesund and ensuring that the Coast Guard can carry out the necessary tasks. Several must apply for a permit for tent and camp stays.
ttn-69
The government tightens the environmental rules on Svalbard – news Troms and Finnmark
