Guidelines for Whalesafari in Alta

All whale species are referred to as “whales” in these guidelines, though some species are technically referred to as “dolphins” or “porpoises.”

To conduct whale watching in Altafjord, operators must comply with passenger transport regulations and whale watching regulations. Vessels carrying more than 12 passengers must have a passenger certificate issued by the Norwegian Maritime Authority. This is essential for guest safety and reflects the quality of experience we aim to deliver.

• The vessel must have certified personnel onboard, according to the regulations for the type of vessel used.
• Whale safari operators should foster good collaboration and communication with one another. Operators agree to use a radio system as a common communication channel and should use VHF Channel 8 for inter-operator communication, with Channel 10 as a backup.
• Both commercial and private operators must understand whale behavior and follow these guidelines. Understanding whale behavior in the fjords helps operators adhere to the guidelines and inform their passengers.
• Commercial whale safari operators are encouraged to incorporate educational content into their tours, highlighting the vulnerability of the marine environment and promoting respect, environmental awareness, and responsible behavior.
• Operators are encouraged to use the full capacity of their vessels and to use the largest of their vessels to reduce the total number of boats observing whales at any given time.
• We recommend a maximum of three boats observing whales simultaneously, both for the well-being of the whales and to enhance the “wilderness experience.”
• If there are multiple boats present in a single situation, operators are encouraged to cooperate, such as by scheduling a maximum of 30 minutes per boat per situation. Boats waiting for their turn should remain 500 meters from the whale where possible, or at a reasonable distance from the situation.
• Encounters should last no longer than three hours, considering the short winter days, the number of boats on the water, and passenger exposure to cold.
• Maintain a low speed near whales, preferably below 5 knots when within 300 meters, and always approach from the side and slightly behind.
• Navigate the boat parallel to the whales’ course. Avoid approaching directly from behind or in front, as whales may feel chased. Also, do not cross the whales’ path to observe their movement patterns.
• Maintain minimum speed within 100 meters and idle speed within 50 meters of the whale.
• Be quiet. Whales may sometimes approach the boat, which is acceptable, but keep the engine in idle mode and resume sailing only when the whale has left the area. Turn off the engine if possible.
• Avoid abrupt accelerations or course changes, as whales may not react quickly to surprises. Sudden gear shifts and reversals produce distressing underwater noise.
• Resting whales can be identified by a regular breathing pattern in gathered groups, and by lying still or moving very slowly at the surface before diving. Keep your distance from resting whales!
• Feeding whales are easily disturbed; avoid getting too close and turn off sonar/echo sounders in these situations.
• Boats should not surround whales or restrict their freedom of movement.
• Under no circumstances should attempts be made to attract or touch the whales, such as through feeding, sound, or light effects.
• If a whale shows signs of stress or avoidance behavior despite these guidelines, leave the area and the whale. Avoidance behavior may include a whale repeatedly changing direction or speed or making long dives to avoid boats.
• Give research vessels space to work. Operators should also encourage passengers to share photos and observations with researchers.
• Fishermen also use these fjords and should be respected amid the increasing boat traffic.
• Diving with whales should not take place.
• Please read the national guidelines for whale watching.

The whale safari guidelines for Alta are part of the “Approved by Visit Alta” badge by Visit Alta. The whale safari guidelines are inspired by guidelines made from Visit Tromsø.