Andfjorden Marine Protected Area (Norway)
On 18 September 2026, Norway's government created the Andfjorden Marine Protected Area across Andøy, Harstad and Senja (Norwegian government).
Image: Ryan Hodnett via Wikimedia Commons (Andfjorden, Andøy, Norway, 2023, CC BY-SA 4.0).
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Norway's largest marine protected area guards coral reefs and kelp forests in the far north.
Andfjorden covers about 1,848.5 km² (about 714 square miles), almost 260,000 football pitches, making it Norway's largest marine protected area (Norwegian government).
Explain Like I'm 10
- Andfjorden is a big, cold stretch of sea in the far north of Norway.
- Under the water there are coral reefs, Large brown seaweed that grows in cool ocean water and forms underwater forests full of sea life. Glossary forests and lots of fish, whales and seabirds.
- Norway made it a protected area, with extra-strict rules in the most fragile spots.
The Five W's of the Andfjorden MPA
Who
Norway's Ministry of Climate and Environment; a board of the municipalities, county authorities and the Sámi Parliament will manage it.
What
A marine protected area with stricter zones for the most valuable, vulnerable wildlife, and one set of rules for fishing, space and defence work.
When
Established on 18 September 2026; it was one of 36 areas in Norway's 2004 Marine Protection Plan.
Where
Waters in the far north of Nordland and the south of Troms, in the municipalities of Andøy, Harstad and Senja.
Why
It holds coral reefs, coral gardens, sponge and sea-pen communities, kelp forests and maerl beds.
Connected Solutions
- Palau National Marine Sanctuary About 80% of Palau's waters are a no-take area.
- Ross Sea Region Marine Protected Area The world's largest marine protected area, off Antarctica.
Impact Statement
Government solution · protected since September 2026
With this one decision, the protected share of mainland Norway's territorial waters rises from about 4.8% to 6%. It makes 24 of the 36 areas in the 2004 Marine Protection Plan protected (Norwegian government).
The Andfjorden protected area is about the size of 260,000 football pitches (Norwegian government).
How This Saves People & the Planet
For People
Local municipalities, the two counties and the Sámi Parliament share the board that runs the area (Norwegian government).
For Nature
Kelp forests, shell-sand seabeds and maerl beds are spawning, nursery and feeding grounds for many fish (Norwegian government).
Learn More About Andfjorden
Want to go deeper? Norway's government explains the decision.
For Further InformationRelated Solutions
More solutions like this one, matched by meaning.
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