Regulations on whale safari in Norway
The Norwegian government has introduced regulations on whale safari in order to protect the whales from unwanted contact with humans and to prevent potential incidents between whale watching and fishing activity.
The purpose of the regulations is to ensure that whalewatching is conducted in a secure, sustainable and gentle manner.
Whalewatching includes all activities related to observing whales in their natural habitat from any vessel, or by swimming, diving or paddling.
All activity connected to whale safari that contribute to cause disturbances to the whales are prohibited.
In details the new regulations states that;
- vessels used in whale safari cannot be closer than 0,2 nautical miles (370 metres) to fishing vessels that are actively fishing, cages for storing in the sea or fixed gear.
- it is prohibited to swim, dive or paddle closer than 0,4 nautical miles (740 metres) to fishing vessels that are actively fishing, cages for storing in the sea or fixed gear.