FOT-ruter debate and tagged sharks off Lofoten

The Nordland / Lofoten news of 3 and 4 October 2026 is dominated by the debate over the future of the FOT-ruter, these subsidised air routes that serve small airports in Northern Norway. The mayor of Vågan is criticising the proposed cuts outlined in a report commissioned by the state, as the archipelago's routes are set to be put out to tender again next year. At the same time, researchers announce they have tagged four sharks off Lofoten and Vesterålen, and a rare discovery has been reported in Bodø.

FOT-ruter: Nordland / Lofoten news at the heart of air services

In Vågan, in the Lofoten, mayor Vidar Thom Benjaminsen is highly critical of the government's announcements. "The worst part is that every attempt to fix the FOT-ruter only makes things worse," he tells NRK Nordland / Lofoten. The short-takeoff-and-landing network's aircraft are an essential means of transport for people in the districts, but they also fuel many debates.

Last week, the publication of a report by Oslo Economics triggered a heated controversy. Northern Norway's FOT-ruter are to be put out to tender next year, and the report was meant to examine how to make the service more efficient. One of the proposed options involved removing several existing routes. A few days later, Minister of Transport Kamzy Gunaratnam had to respond to the reactions.

The issue directly affects Nordland county, where several municipalities depend on these flights for daily travel, care and services. The debate centres on the balance between budget savings and maintaining a dense network in sparsely populated areas.

Four sharks tagged off Lofoten and Vesterålen

In August, researchers at the Institute of Marine Research (Havforskningsinstituttet) got a surprise during a survey carried out with the Directorate of Fisheries' maritime service. They were at sea off Lofoten and Vesterålen to tag sharks.

After five days without a single bite, researcher Keno Ferter was considering giving up due to poor weather forecasts. "Our goal was to tag at least five fish," he explains to NRK Nordland / Lofoten. He had so little confidence in the operation's success that he even thought about spending the day at the office.

After several reports from the public, the researchers identified a hotspot in Stefjorden, in Ofoten. They filled bags with mackerel and hung them off the side of the boat to attract the sharks. "Ten minutes later, my colleagues were shouting that there were sharks around the boat," the researcher recalls. Four specimens were eventually tagged.

A rare discovery reported in Bodø

In Bodø, a rare find has been reported and may date back to the Iron Age, reports Avisa Nordland on Sunday 4 October. The exact nature of the discovery and its archaeological context have not yet been detailed.

📌 Local briefs

A fire broke out on Saturday evening in a barn in Skjerstad, in Bodø municipality, before spreading to a nearby home. Everyone in the house evacuated and has been accounted for; the barn burned down completely and the house suffered damage, with no cause identified (NRK Nordland / Lofoten, Avisa Nordland).

A 60-year-old man from Nordland died on Thursday during a hunting trip in Arjeplog, Sweden. Another Norwegian hunter, aged 65, arrested on Friday, was released on Saturday afternoon; he remains suspected of involuntary manslaughter, but according to the Swedish prosecution there is nothing to indicate that he acted intentionally (NRK Nordland / Lofoten, Lofotposten).

A motorist had his licence revoked after hitting a cyclist (NRK Nordland / Lofoten). Fog also disrupted air traffic in the region (NRK Nordland / Lofoten). In the Lofoten, a person claims that police used force and "forced entry" into a home (Lofotposten).

Avisa Nordland publishes the account of Aasmund, who says he is "incredibly grateful" in his new daily life. Lofotposten also profiles Martin, 18, who was set to become a fisherman and now works as a car mechanic. The programme "Norge Rundt" celebrates its 50th anniversary; over the years, the show has notably featured "stormtroopers" from Nordland (NRK Nordland / Lofoten).

Sources: NRK Nordland / Lofoten, Avisa Nordland, Lofotposten — Period: 03 October 2026 and 04 October 2026