New rules: the details

Posted on 9. January 2025 by Rolf Stange

There may be more attractive things to talk about than going into the small print of a comprehensive new set of rules, but the much-discussed new rules will from now on determine where we can and cannot go in Svalbard, and much more besides. So they are important. And above all, it is clear that there is a lot of uncertainty and a need for clarification. There are now rumours and misinformation circulating, which I would like to counter.

So there’s only one thing to do: you have to get into the details to see what it is all about. This is not only important for guides who need to know the facts, but also if you are wondering whether a trip to Spitsbergen will still be worthwhile in the future (the short answer: yes).

Spitsbergen under sail: still possible, still beautiful. In future, especially in key regions where we will continue to have freedom of movement as usual.

However, I won’t be doing this as part of a post that will be pushed down more and more by newer posts over time, but on a separate page within the ‘Spitsbergen information’ section, which will remain where it is. Click here to open this new page.

Rumours and nonsense

The following is not true:

‘You are only allowed to go ashore in 43 places on boat trips in Svalbare.’ That’s rubbish, we still have plenty of space for landings and hikes. Refer to the new page for further details.
‘Many bird colonies are now closed and may no longer be visited.’ That’s rubbish, but there are speed limits in many places. Details … You can guess where they are.
‘You can no longer see polar bears in Spitsbergen.’ Yes, you can, but distances apply (500 metres until the end of June, 300 metres from the beginning of July). Close-ups are no longer possible in Svalbard, but with binoculars and a good telephoto lens, you can still have a great experience and take some great photos. And this law does not apply at the drift ice outside the twelve-mile zone.
‘You are no longer allowed to visit walrus colonies.’ Yes, you can. The minimum distances that are now prescribed for walruses apply to boats. As soon as you are on land, you can visit walrus colonies as usual.
‘Svalbard is no longer an interesting travel destination.’ This is wrong, Svalbard is and remains a beautiful, interesting destination with many possibilities. We still have plenty of space for shore excursions and hikes and we will still be able to see lots of wildlife, including walruses, polar bears (the latter at the distances mentioned above) and bird colonies.

Do you agree that spitsbergen-svalbard.com is a great resource for any arctic enthusiast?

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