Foredraget vart halde på European Polar Science Week, København, 3.9.2024

Expedition cruise tourism is rapidly increasing in Svalbard, with Arctic nature being a major attraction. Smaller cruise vessels can access remote areas, especially those rich in wildlife. Meanwhile, ecosystems in Svalbard are affected by multiple stressors caused by climate and environmental changes, increased pollution, and increased human activities. In response, the Norwegian government has implemented strict tourism and environmental regulations, with a general ban on disembarkation in protected areas outside of 43 designated sites, as well as other restrictive measures. These regulations are justified with the volume of expedition cruise tourism and the increased vulnerability of ecosystems due to climate change. However, they have met strong resistance from stakeholders, particularly the tourism industry. In this study, a theoretical perspective of political legitimacy is adopted to enhance our understanding of the resistance to the proposed amendments to environmental and tourism regulations. Based on a compilation of ship positional data, we assess the spatio-temporal distribution of cruise ships in Svalbard from 2011 to 2022 and the potential impacts on selected species. We also discuss the legitimacy of the regulatory amendments and the application of the precautionary principle. Our results show significant growth in the amount, distribution, and mileage of expedition cruise vessels’ length of travel. While a precautionary approach to management is wise in a situation in which more stressors than ever are threatening Arctic wildlife, more adaptive forms of management would strengthen the legitimacy of regulations and reduce conflict.