New Svalbard regulations

During days on deck around Svalbard, you may see polar bears on early summer’s fracturing sea ice, or perhaps you’ll drift by huddled colonies of walrus hauled out on frozen beaches. Touching 81ºN in the Arctic Ocean, this nine-island Norwegian archipelago is a mesmerising force of nature.

During polar summers (mid-May to September), when melting sea ice unlocks Svalbard’s icy shorelines, guests arrive in expedition vessels. From January 1st this year, a new set of regulations under the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act will greet arrivals. Conservationists say they will better protect Svalbard’s wildlife, which is vulnerable to climate change stress. Other voices suggest the regulations are draconian and will damage Svalbard’s tourism.

The regulations limit ships to 200 passengers within protected areas. Svalbard’s 29 protected areas cover 65% of the archipelago’s landmass and 86% of the marine territorial waters out to 12 miles. Landings within these protected areas have been reduced to 43 locations, and drones are banned. Breaking newly formed fast ice is also prohibited except on a few shipping routes. This all seems very positive.

It’s the wildlife specifications, however, that have caused some consternation. The minimum distance by vessels from polar bears has been set at 300 metres from July 1st to February 28th and 500 metres between March 1st to June 30th. Five hundred metres will put them out of range for even powerful telephoto lenses. The regulations state that it will be prohibited to disturb, lure, or pursue polar bears. If a ship encounters them closely by accident, even if at anchor, they must move away immediately. The seasonal 500-metre regulation gives space to polar bear cubs, born between December and January, who leave their dens around March to April onwards.