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Svalbard and Jan Mayen: New AML Regulations Come into Force

From January 1st, 2025, stricter regulations on tourism in Svalbard and Jan Mayen will come into effect, aimed at protecting the fragile Arctic environment.

Reduced Landing Sites and Passenger Limits

  • The number of mapped landing sites in protected areas has been significantly reduced to 43.
  • The maximum number of passengers allowed on board in all protected areas is now limited to 200.

Drone Ban and Vehicle Restrictions

  • The use of drones has been banned in all protected areas.
  • Snowmobiles and tracked vehicles are no longer permitted on sea ice after March 1st in selected fjords, with exceptions for access to cabins.

Motor Traffic Regulations

  • A speed limit of 5 knots is now enforced within 500 meters of land outside bird cliffs between April 1st and August 31st.
  • A minimum distance of 150 meters must be maintained from walrus haul-sites, with a reduced speed limit of 5 knots within 300 meters.

Ice Breaking Prohibitions

  • Breaking fast ice is now generally prohibited, except for:
    • Maintaining fairways into Longyearbyen and Barentsburg.
    • Supplies to Ny-Ålesund.
    • Necessary tasks by the Norwegian Coast Guard.

Camping Permits

  • More camping activities will require permits under the new regulations.

Impact on Tourism

According to Frigg Jørgensen, Director of AECO, “It feels dramatic when Norway sets aside the right of public access and closes more than 65 percent of the Svalbard archipelago to free movement. It’s an area almost as big as Denmark.”

The Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment is also proposing further changes to the regulations for polar bear protection, including:

  • A minimum distance of 300 meters from polar bears between July 1st and February 28th.
  • An obligation to retreat if a bear is sighted within this distance.

Prioritizing Environmental Protection

The government’s priority is to preserve Svalbard’s unique nature and wildlife, which are already feeling the effects of climate change. “We want to preserve the contiguous wilderness area in Svalbard for future generations,” said Andreas Bjelland Eriken, Norway’s Minister for Climate and Environment.

These new regulations aim to strike a balance between environmental protection and tourism, ensuring that Svalbard remains an untouched natural paradise for years to come.