Marine protected areas for whales, dolphins, and porpoises: a world ...

Habitat Protection for Cetaceans around the World 129
Notes and rationale For more information
• In 1998, the Norwegian Polar Institute evaluated Svalbard’s current • Norris, 2003; Prokosch,
protected areas and made various proposals for additional 1999
protected areas that would be more representative of ecosystems • Contact: WWF Arctic
and habitats (Prokosch, 1999). The 1998 report stated that ‘despite Programme, PO Box 6784,
its significant extension, the national parks and the large nature St Olavsplass, N-0130 Oslo,
reserves together do not safeguard a representative cross-section of Norway;
Svalbard’s natural and cultural environment. The most productive email: arctic@wwf.no
and species-rich land areas of the island group are least represented • Fredrik Juell Theisen,
within the protected areas.’ Based on this report, in 2003, five new Miljøverndepartementet
protected areas were created in Svalbard, including the four with a (Ministry of the
marine component at left (23–26). Total size is 1717 mi 2 (4449 km 2 ) Environment), PO Box 8013
of Svalbard’s land area. This means that 15,088 mi 2 (39,088 km 2 ) Dep, N-0030 Oslo, Norway;
of Svalbard’s land area is now protected (about 63 per cent). In email: FJT@md.dep.no;
late 2003, the extension of the park boundaries from 4 to 12 nm web: http://odin.dep.no/md/
(7.4 to 22.2 km) means that the total Svalbard marine protected zone
now amounts to nearly 27,956 mi 2 (72,424 km 2 ).
• Rationale is to protect rich tundra with wetland birds and plants;
these areas also include some prime beluga habitat.
• Proposed as a nature reserve by Norwegian authorities, Bear Island • Gjertz, 1991; Gjertz and
Nature Reserve including territorial waters was created in 2002 as Wiig, 1994; Prokosch, 1999;
an important staging post for birds migrating to and from the Arctic. Schandy, 2000; Norris, 2002
All animal life is to be protected, although sea fishing will be allowed • Contact: WWF Arctic
under Ministry of Fisheries regulations. Programme, PO Box 6784,
• The protected area does not include prime upwelling areas at the St Olavsplass, N-0130 Oslo,
edge of the continental slope where feeding whales are commonly Norway;
found. In addition to the cetaceans listed at left, sperm whales are
also seen offshore.
email: arctic@wwf.no
• In the late 1990s, WWF’s Norway and Arctic programmes • Gjertz, 1991; Gjertz and
campaigned for ‘one national park’ for Svalbard which would protect Wiig, 1994; Hansson, 2000;
all of Svalbard and the surrounding water, as well as its ecology and Hoyt, 1997a; Humphreys
outstanding wildlife populations, including high densities of seabirds and Prokosch, 2000;
and marine mammals, under a single protection and management McQuaid, 1986; Mørkved
scheme. This campaign was unsuccessful but with the 2003 and Gjertz, 1994; Norris,
creation of five new protected areas covering 1717 mi2 (4449 km2 ) 2003; Prokosch, 1999;
of Svalbard’s land area and the extension of the park boundaries Reeves, 1980; Schandy,
from 4 to 12 nm (7.4–22.2 km), the original ‘one park’ goal is close 2000
to being realized. With the 12 nm (22.2 km) marine boundaries, • Contact: WWF Arctic
the Svalbard marine protected zone has added up to 15,830 mi2 Programme, PO Box 6784,
(41,000 km2 ) to Svalbard protected areas. St Olavsplass, N-0130
See Case Study 2, Svalbard – A complicated protection regime, for Oslo, Norway;
a fuller discussion. email: arctic@wwf.no
• Fredrik Juell Theisen,
Miljøverndepartementet
(Ministry of the
Environment), PO Box 8013
Dep, N-0030 Oslo, Norway;
email: FJT@md.dep.no;
web: http://odin.dep.no/md/