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Norway Fines Foghorn User 50,000 Kroner for Polar Bear

8/16/2026

Summary

Norway Fines

Norway fined a person 50,000 kroner for using a ship’s foghorn to wake a sleeping polar bear in Svalbard.
Governor Lars Fause said the occupants sounded the foghorn after spotting the bear on land, causing the bear to move away.
The penalty, issued under Section 30a of the Svalbard Environmental Act, reflects rules that forbid approaching bears within 300 metres (July-Feb) or 500 metres (Mar-Jun) and protect the 250-300-strong population since 1972.

Summary

Polar Bears Thrive

Scientists reported that Svalbard polar bears are thriving and gaining weight despite ice-melt concerns.
The Norwegian Polar Bear Institute estimates about 300 bears live year-round, up from roughly 260 in 2015.
An incident in a north-eastern Svalbard fjord, about 1,000 km (620 miles) from the North Pole, led to a 50,000 kroner penalty reported as US$5,255 and S$6,770.
A photo caption noted a mother bear with two cubs, one adopted, showing family behavior.

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Norway Fines

Norway fined a person 50,000 kroner for using a ship’s foghorn to wake a sleeping polar bear in Svalbard.
Governor Lars Fause said the occupants sounded the foghorn after spotting the bear on land, causing the bear to move away.
The penalty, issued under Section 30a of the Svalbard Environmental Act, reflects rules that forbid approaching bears within 300 metres (July-Feb) or 500 metres (Mar-Jun) and protect the 250-300-strong population since 1972.

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