Jakarta, ThedailyID — A tourist in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago was fined NOK 50,000, or around $5,800, after using a ship’s foghorn to wake a sleeping polar bear.
The incident happened in early August 2026 while the vessel was sailing through a fjord in northeastern Svalbard, roughly 1,000 kilometers from the North Pole.
According to Svalbard Governor Lars Fause, a passenger spotted the polar bear sleeping on land and sounded the foghorn. The noise woke the animal, which then moved to another location.
“The passenger reportedly saw a polar bear sleeping on land. Someone then sounded the foghorn, waking the animal,” Fause said on August 13.
The tourist’s identity and nationality have not been disclosed. The person reportedly agreed to pay the fine imposed by the Governor of Svalbard’s office.
Polar Bears Are Protected in Svalbard
Svalbard has strict rules governing interactions with polar bears, which have been protected in the archipelago since 1972.
Tourists are prohibited from unnecessarily disturbing, attracting or chasing polar bears. Rules have also established minimum distances between people and the animals, including a 300-meter distance under regulations in 2025 and 500 meters during certain periods.
Scientists estimated that around 260 polar bears were recorded across the Svalbard archipelago in the latest assessment cited in the report, conducted in 2015.
A Popular Arctic Tourism Destination
Despite its remote location and harsh climate, Svalbard has become a popular destination for Arctic tourism.
The archipelago is known for the Midnight Sun, when the sun remains above the horizon for months during summer. Winter brings the opposite phenomenon, known as the polar night, which can also offer opportunities to see the northern lights.
Visitors can take part in activities including boat trips, kayaking, dog sledding, snowmobile safaris and glacier tours. Activities vary depending on the season and local conditions.
