Protected areas

the Board manage seven protected areas that overlap in Karlsøy municipality, Northern Norway. These protected areas consist of a large marine protected area, a large protected landscape and several nature reserves:

Nordkvaløya-Rebbenesøya protected landscape 1158,18 km2, of which 592,42 km2 is ocean area.

Ytre Karlsøy marine protected area 410,2 km2 ocean area

Flatvær nature reserve 58,89 km2, of which 52,73 km2 is ocean area.

Måsvær nature reserve 86,97 km2, of which 66,75 km2 is ocean area.

Kvitvær nature reserve 18,73 km2, of which 18,43 km2 is ocean area.

Sørfugløya nature reserve 31,03 km2, of which 26,77 km2 is ocean area.

Breivika nature reserve 38,93 km2, of which 4,63 km2 is ocean area.

The area, both on land and on the ocean is managed as a whole. There are several island and islets covered by all these protected areas.

The purpose of the protected landscape is to protect a large, connected coastal areas representing the coastal nature in Troms. here are well developed geological landscape elements and traces of rich cultures back to the stone age.

the purpose of the marine protected area is to protect a representative outer coastal area, with great variation in exposure, depth and currents, and a great span og biotopes and habitats. It also has a great value as feeding grounds for seabirds. It is a goal to keep the protevted values as unaffected by outer influence as possible. The purpose of this area is tied to the ocean surface and the sea bottom.

For the nature reserves the purpose is to protect an area typical of island nature, with smaller island, islet and shallow waters with their plant and animal life. The area is very important to seabirds and is one of the most important breeding areas for seabirds in Norway.

Each area has its own set of regulations, specific for that area. And the areas are protected for eternity, not for a limited time.

The board is also part of the EU-project A-AAgora.