Svalbard: what the 2025 regulations change

Since January 1, 2025, Norway has enforced some of the strictest protection rules in the Arctic in Svalbard: no more large ships in protected areas, supervised landings, mandatory distances from polar bears and walruses. Here is what has changed, and what it means for a voyage aboard Polarfront.

Why new rules?

Svalbard attracts more visitors every year, while its natural environment is fragile and its climate is warming faster than almost anywhere else on the planet. To protect its wildlife and landscapes, the Norwegian government revised the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act and several of its regulations: national parks, nature reserves, boat and snowmobile traffic, camping. The new rules came into force on January 1, 2025; the Governor of Svalbard, the Sysselmester, makes sure they are respected.

The protected areas, national parks and nature reserves, cover nearly two thirds of the archipelago’s land and most of its coastal waters. That is where you find most of the glaciers, fjords and wildlife colonies that people come to Spitsbergen to see.

No more than 200 passengers in protected areas

Cruise ships carrying more than 200 passengers are no longer allowed into the protected areas. The largest expedition ships therefore have to make do with the unprotected areas, around Longyearbyen in particular.

Polarfront takes only 12 guests: our itineraries still go through the national parks and nature reserves, from northwest Spitsbergen all the way to Nordaustlandet, in the northeast of the archipelago.

Landing at designated sites, with a guide

For tourist activities, landings in protected areas are now allowed only at 43 mapped sites, chosen because they can better withstand visitors. A guide familiar with the natural environment and cultural heritage must accompany each group ashore, and the number of people on a site at the same time is limited.

With 12 guests and two guides, our landings are always in small groups: exactly the way of traveling these rules encourage. The authorized sites remain varied, from beaches where walruses haul out to the remains of old whaling stations.

Polar bears: 300 meters, and 500 meters in spring

It is now forbidden to approach a polar bear closer than 300 meters, or closer than 500 meters from March 1 to June 30, when females leave their dens with their cubs. If a bear is closer, you must move away. As before, it remains forbidden to disturb, attract or pursue a bear.

In practice, bears are watched from the deck, through binoculars and telephoto lenses, leaving the animal to go about its life. An encounter at 300 or 500 meters is still unforgettable: the bear hunts, rests or swims without being disturbed. We cover this in detail in our guide polar bears in Spitsbergen.

Walruses, bird cliffs and drones

Other species are better protected too. By boat, you must stay at least 150 meters from the beaches where walruses haul out, and not exceed 5 knots within 300 meters. From April 1 to August 31, speed is limited to 5 knots within 500 meters of the large bird cliffs, and drones may not fly within 500 meters of these colonies. In protected areas, drones are banned all year round.

It is also forbidden to break the fast ice along the coasts, except to keep the approaches to Longyearbyen and Barentsburg open, to supply Ny-Ålesund or for Coast Guard missions.

What it means for you

For Polarfront travelers, these rules change little in practice, and mostly for the better: fewer large ships in the protected fjords, preserved sites, less disturbed wildlife. Spitsbergen remains one of the most accessible gateways to the High Arctic, as long as you discover it on a small scale.

Before each outing, the guides go over the guidelines: take nothing, do not approach the animals, stay together ashore. You travel with peace of mind, knowing your visit leaves no trace. To choose your season, see our guide When to go to Spitsbergen.

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