A person in the Svalbard archipelago has received a fine of 50,000 kroner, approximately 3,890 pounds, for disturbing wildlife. Local officials confirmed the individual sounded a ship’s foghorn to wake a sleeping polar bear while navigating a fjord in the northwestern region of the territory.
The governor of Svalbard noted the incident occurred when the vessel passed the animal resting on land. The noise from the foghorn startled the bear, forcing it to abandon its location and move elsewhere. This action violated local environmental regulations designed to protect the region's arctic species.
Polar bears have held protected status in Svalbard since 1972. The Svalbard Environment Act strictly forbids any activity that needlessly disturbs, attracts, or pursues the local wildlife. Authorities maintain these rules to prevent unnecessary stress on protected animals, including seals, whales, reindeer, and arctic foxes.
This is not an isolated incident in the region. In 2024, a tourist paid an 11,500 kroner fine for approaching a walrus too closely. The individual in this most recent case has accepted the penalty and agreed to pay the full amount as directed by the governor’s office.