Calls to Regulate Whale-Watching

The opening of the whale-watching season, hospital reform and the completion of a tunnel construction project dominate the Tromsø / Finnmark news from 2 and 3 November 2026. Whale-watching tourism professionals are calling for stricter rules, the mayors of Nord-Troms are wondering how healthcare will be organised in the future, and Troms county has received nearly 100 million kroner in bankruptcy guarantees. Troms and Finnmark, separated since 1 January 2024 following the dissolution of the former Troms og Finnmark county, are also overseeing several infrastructure construction projects.

Tromsø / Finnmark news: the whale-watching industry calls for stricter rules

In Tromsø, the start of the whale-watching season is under pressure. During a meeting with the Minister of Fisheries, industry representatives called for stricter regulations, NRK Tromsø / Finnmark reports. “We are entering a new season with heavy pressure, many boats and actors who come far too close to the animals,” says Helga Bårdsdatter Kristiansen, director of Visit Tromsø-regionen.

Agnes Örnadóttir of Brim Explorer points to the behaviour of some operators: “We have already seen people boasting about swimming and diving with a newborn killer whale calf. Where else in the world is this allowed?” Øyvind Marvik of Rødne Fjord Cruise confirms that many take the animals into account, but not everyone. A lack of on-site oversight was also raised by those present.

According to NRK Tromsø / Finnmark, the professionals gathered around the minister judged that the current rules would not be sufficient for this season. The call for tighter regulation comes just as the season has opened in the fjords of Nord-Troms, where several operators offer daily trips.

Healthcare reform: North Troms representatives fear municipal reform

Kai Petter Johansen (SV), mayor of Kvænangen, is reacting to the government’s proposals for organising healthcare. He says he is pleased that the state is assuming greater responsibility and acknowledges that the current hospital trust model and its funding have not worked satisfactorily. However, he believes that the announced solutions lack clarity.

“I feel that the solutions are very vague and are largely deferred to new reforms that affect a huge number of areas,” he tells NRK Tromsø / Finnmark. He fears that inter-municipal cooperation and new local healthcare companies (nærhelseforetak) will be lengthy and costly to establish. “We know, in Kvænangen and in our region, that the municipalities are already under considerable pressure to handle the tasks they have today.”

The representative is also reacting to the expert commission identifying the size of the municipalities as a challenge. He fears that a reform presented as healthcare reform will, in practice, become a new municipal reform.

Tromsø tunnels: 97.7 million kroner recovered after bankruptcy

The renovation work on the Tromsø tunnels was disrupted by the bankruptcy of contractor Bertelsen & Garpestad. The remaining work had to be put out for tender again, in a market where prices had risen markedly since the project began. Troms county has now recovered 97.7 million kroner under the guarantee, according to NRK Tromsø / Finnmark.

“The bankruptcy resulted in significant additional costs for the tunnel project. We are therefore pleased that close to 100 million kroner has been paid through the guarantee scheme,” says Bjørn H. Kavli, head of transport at Troms county, in a press release. The tunnels were halfway through an extensive renovation. For large projects, the contractor must provide a guarantee that is triggered in the event of a contract breach, amounting to 10 % under the applicable rule.

Ibestad: a new pier for the express boat at Engenes

On Monday afternoon, the express boat docked for the first time at the new pier in Engenes, in the municipality of Ibestad. “This is a huge improvement for the express boat service in the municipality,” says Mayor Jim Kristiansen. The former landing point at Anderkleiva had long served as a temporary solution and proved very vulnerable to bad weather, resulting in numerous cancellations. Residents had to arrange a backup car.

“It is a very good feeling. In a way, it marks the final milestone of a long-running quay project at the Engenes fishing port,” says Øyvind H. Svartsund, director of M. Arvesen Eiendom AS, the company that carried out the work. The stated goal is to provide a more reliable service for express boat passengers.

Local life: a bar in Tromsø expands, new charging stations

Among the other Tromsø / Finnmark news stories from the past 48 hours, Nordlys reports the expansion of the Raketten establishment in Tromsø, in a publication dated 3 November. The regional media outlet presents the extension as a “Norwegian-style” concept. Nordlys also announces the arrival of new charging stations for electric cars in the city.

At the municipal level, iTromsø reports that a proposal for a parking charge for employees is under consideration, with the prospect of lively debate. Meanwhile, iFinnmark devotes a portrait to May Kristin, 41, who is settling in against the grain and describes her home as her “eldorado.”

📌 Local briefs

A dog attacked a 9-year-old boy during an outing in town, according to iTromsø (2 November); the account relayed states that the animal bit him in the throat.

The same day, a motorist was taken to University Hospital of North Norway (UNN) after crashing near Folkeparken (iTromsø).

Nordlys reports a request to ban electric scooters, presented by its authors as a response to a “tragic epidemic” of accidents.

iFinnmark reports strong criticism of one municipality’s management, described as “psychological terror” by concerned residents.

Sources: NRK Tromsø / Finnmark, Nordlys, iTromsø, iFinnmark, The Local Norway — Period: 02 November 2026 and 03 November 2026