The national parks need to be managed and kept free of rubbish and pollutants. The Koster-havet work boat (at the top) is often seen out on a job. In Ytre Hvaler, it is the Skärgårdstjänsten (at the bottom) which provides this service.

GREEN BOATING IN THE NATIONAL PARKS

A healthy marine environment is important for boating and “green” boating is important for the marine environment! As a skipper, there is much you can do to minimise your im-pact and emissions into the air and the water: make sure that pollutants such as oil, petrol or chemicals do not leak into the water and use emptying sta-

tions for boat toilets. It is also important not to leave litter. Plastic, string, fishing line, glass and other types of rubbish are lethal to seals, birds, fish and other animals. Remember that anchors can damage the sea bed – avoid dragging and use permanent buoys wherever possible. Respect the anchor bans.

Consider the seals. Around 2500 common seals live in Kosterhavet and Ytre Hvaler, the majority on the Swedish side. Seals suckle their cubs on land. It is therefore important that the females are not disturbed and flee into the water before the young have finished suckling. Please respect the seal protection areas.

No damage thanks! Some underwater habitats are very fragile. In the parks there are several sea bed protection areas, where it is forbidden to anchor, fish with a trawl or use other equip-ment which may damage the sea bed.

Reduce speed. In spe-cific areas the speed limit is restricted to a maximum of 5 knots to reduce the disturbance to wildlife and give everyone the chance to enjoy the environment. Around Tjälleskär south of Koster there is a specially designated “quiet area” where special at-tention is paid to the reduction of noisy activities.

CONSIDERATION – best for everyone!

Cheeky stowaways – and what can you do about them!

GREEN DRIVING

Drive economically. By driving a motor boat in the right way you can reduce your fuel consumption by up to 40 percent. If you have a boat which is de-signed to plane – make sure you drive it either under or just over the so called planing speed threshold. When planning, reduce speed to save fuel. Keeping the hull and propeller free from fouling growth, adjusting the boats trim tabs and adjusting the angle of the engine are other ways to reduce fuel costs and the impact on the environment.

Use the best fuel. Older petrol-driven two stroke engines discharge huge amounts of unburnt fuel into the water and the air. By using alkylate petrol you re-duce the most harmful discharges by 80-90 percent. For diesel engines the environmentally friendly alter-native currently is diesel in environmental class 1.

Check the engine. Changing spark plugs at the start of the season does the trick for the engine and also for the environment. The engine runs more smoothly and efficiently and uses less fuel.

Check the pipes or seals to ensure no fuel or other discharges are leaking. Are you planning to buy a new engine? Ask for one with a catalytic converter!

Choose environmentally friendly oil. Make sure you have biodegradable oil (bio oil) if your engine runs on an oil-petrol mix – it makes a huge difference to the environment. Check the oil and fuel filters at the start of every season.

Distribute the weight correctly. How you and the crew sit in the boat, where the luggage and heavy items such as the battery are stored is significant. En-sure that the boat is evenly loaded, this reduces fuel consumption – and also makes driving safer and more comfortable.

Use the right products for your boat. Make sure you use the most environmentally friendly boat products when taking care of your boat. For the cooling system during the winter – use the less poisonous propylene glycol instead of the usual glycol.

MORE INFORMATION

County Governor of ØstfoldTel: + 47 69 24 70 00

Kosterhavet managementThe County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland, Tel: + 46 31 60 50 00 out of hours: + 46 526 200 03

SkjærgårdstjenestenTel: + 47 99 88 59 52 / + 47 480 73 476

Norwegian Nature Inspectorate (SNO) Tel: + 47 73 58 05 00 Ytre Hvaler National park centre Skjærhalden Tel: + 47 69 37 50 00 /+ 47 908 58 703

www.kosterhavet.sewww.ytrehvaler.no

Stowaways on the hull and propellers increase

fuel consumption! With a simple work and environmen-tal awareness you can keep

the hull clean – this saves both money and the environment.

Choose environmentally friendly antifouling paint and wash the

boat at a special boat washing facility. Alternatively keep the

hull clean without toxic paint – scrub with a sturdy scrubbing

brush once or twice during the season and you can

keep the stowaways at bay.

EUROPEAN UNIONEuropean Regional Development Fund

Nesting in progress. Many of the sea birds characteristic of the area nest in the parks’ bird protection areas. Peace and quiet is important so that breeding birds do not aban-don their eggs and chicks. Keep your distance from protected areas and avoid disturbing flocks of birds out on the water!

The County Governor of ØstfoldThe County Governor of Østfold

KOSTERHAVET YTRE HVALER

Fishing Yes, but fishing regulations apply *

Yes, but fishing regulations apply **

Snorkel and dive Yes Yes

Stay overnight in a boat Max two nights at the same place

No specific regulations

Camp Max two nights at the same place. Prohibited during the day on some islets 1/7-15/8. Koster; only on campsites

Max two nights. Akerøya and Storesand are recommended as campsites

Go ashore on islets Yes, but respect the bird and seal protection areas, see map

Yes, but respect the bird and seal protection areas, see map

Anchor in sea bed protection areas

No No, but anchoring when moored on land is allowed

Allow an engine to idle or use an engine driven generator

No No specific regulations, but ”unnecessary disturbance” is not allowed

Drive a jet ski Only in navigation channels No

Pull up a boat or moor on sandy beaches

No. At least 50 m distance is required for mooring. Obs the anchor bans at Koster

No specific regulations

Pull up a canoe or kayak onto the beach

Yes, if it does not block the beach

No specific regulations

Light a fire Yes, at specially designated places

Yes, but not on exposed rocks. Obs general fire ban 15/4 - 15/9

Cycle and ride Yes, on roads Yes, on specified tracks and roads

Take a dog on a lead Yes Yes

Pick mussels and oysters Yes, but not oysters Yes

Disturb or move plants and animals

No No

Pick berries, mushrooms, flowers

Yes, but not protected species Yes, common species

Take away or rearrange stones

No, areas of shingle etc. should be protected

No, not larger stones

Goldsinny wrasse Small fearless fish, easily recognised

because of the black spot on the tail fin.

Sea hareA large sea slug

which can be up to 7 cms long. Eats sea-

weed and is common on shallow sea beds.

BladderwrackLarge brown sea-weed which holds itself upright in the water with special

air bladders.

UNDER THE SURFACE

Ytre Hvaler and Kosterhavet national parks have a beautiful coast and archipelgo, but also a spectacular underwater land-scape. Shallow waters, steep cliffs, forests of seaweed, meadows of eelgrass and cor-als are just a few examples of the habitats which are hidden under the sea surface. It is the many and varied habitat types as well as the high salt content of the water which create the conditions for this unusual species rich-ness; there are more than 6000 species in these waters. Many are rare and several are threat-ened. Prawns, crabs, Norway lobsters and common lobsters are all fished commercially within the parks. Now and

again porpoises travel through the Koster and Hvaler Trench on the hunt for herring and mackerel. The sea bed is undulating with deep faults and the maximum depth is 462 metres (Hvaler-djupet). The coral reefs that can be found in several places provide protection and food for a multitude of marine ani-mals and are the most species rich underwater habitat in the parks. The national parks have an in-teresting geology and history; remains from shipping and fishing in the olden times are clear to see in everything from lighthouse stations to simple overnight shelters for fisher-men on islands and islets.

Common

shore crabCurious and always

hungry. Crushes shells and mussels with its

strong claws.

Porpoises Small whales

which can regularly be seen. They can dive down to more than 240 metres.

Welcome to Kosterhavet and Ytre Hvaler national parks, a unique natural marine environ-ment shared by Sweden and Norway. Boating in the national parks provides wonderful oppor-tunities to experience the mag-nificent archipelago and sea. As a traveller at sea, you can con-tribute to preserving the parks’ valuable nature for the future!

In the national parks, you can go fishing, diving, swimming, or stay over as well as many other activities associated with the coast and archi-pelago. Please remember, however that as a visitor in a national park you are nature’s guest. Everyone who visits the area has a responsi-bility for ensuring that the plants and animals are not disturbed and that the habitats do not deteriorate. By boat you can enjoy the open sea and the secret bays and narrow straits of the archipelago. During the

summer the boat traffic is very lively. Speed limits are in place in specific areas, lower speed reduces noise and the risk of damage to the sea bed from surge and propellers. You are not allowed to lay anchor where the sea bed is particularly sensitive. There is a ban on going ashore on some islands at certain times, this is to give sea birds and seals peace and quiet when they have their young.

CAST OFF! – on nature’s terms

Travelling by boat makes it possible to explore a multitude of beauty spots in the archipelago.

Boating has many

faces. The national parks are there to pro-tect the nature conservation values and to ensure that everyone has

the opportu-nity to enjoy

the sea and archipelago

environments!

Shallow sea beds are sensitive to surge and propeller movements. The vegetation on the sea

bed can come loose and make the water murky. Low speed in shallow waters reduces this risk.

WHAT CAN I DO?Here is an overview of the

national parks’ regulations. For the full list of regulations, see

www.kosterhavet.se and www.ytrehvaler.no or the informa-

tion signs in the national parks.

* www.lansstyrelsen.se/vastragotaland/amnen/Fiske/Fiskebestämmelser1/

** www.fiskeridir.no/fritidsfiske

Jet skis – a controversial issue. In Sweden you can drive in the navigation channels. In Norway it is forbidden to drive jet skis.

Pro

duce

d by

: M K

varn

bäck

/S L

iljens

tröm

. Lay

out:

Kar

in B

jörk

. Map

: Han

s S

jögr

en. P

hoto

s: K

arin

Bjö

rk, A

ge S

ten

Fred

rikse

n, S

vant

e H

ulte

ngre

n, L

isbe

th J

onss

on, P

er K

laes

son,

Ann

elie

Lin

dgre

n, L

ars-

Ove

Loo

, Tom

as L

undä

lv,

Sve

n-G

unna

r Lu

nner

yd, F

redr

ik P

leije

l, A

ase

Ric

hter

, Erik

Sel

ande

r, S

kjæ

rgår

dstje

nest

en, A

nder

s Ty

sklin

d, M

atti

Åhl

und.

Tra

nsla

tion:

Vik

ki F

orbe

s. T

ryck

: Møk

lega

ards

Try

kker

i 201

0, 1

0 00

0 co

pies

.

TELEPHONE NUMBERS

SWEDEN

SOS Alarm (police, fire brigade, ambu-lance, search and rescue etc) The Coast Guard Region West, control centre The Coast Guard Strömstad

Police/Sea Police (non emergency) Swedish Sea Rescue Society Strömstad Medical advice

112

+46 31 727 91 00

+46 526 120 64

+46 77 114 14 00

+46 705 80 81 47

+46 771 11 77 00

Norwegian Sea Rescue Society Main officeRS Horn Flyer, Skjærhalden

Sea assistanceTelenor Maritime Radio Norwegian Coastal AdministrationRegion SørØst

NORWAY

Emergency number: Fire

Police

Hospital

110

112

113

+ 47 06 757+ 47 916 79 642

+ 47 22 77 43 50

+ 47 07 847

Map • Contacts • Wildlife Information

NATURE GUIDE FOR

BOATINGIN KOSTERHAVET AND YTRE HVALER NATIONAL PARKS

E

E

E

Kos

ter

sten

Käb

b-

linga

rna

Lers

kär

Kun

gbäc

k

Sä

cken

Häl

le-

stra

nd

Str

ömst

ad

Käl

lvik

Tju

rhol

men

S.

Häl

lsö

N.

Lång

ön

S.

Lång

ön

N. H

älls

ö

Ödd

ö Tjä

rnö

Sal

tö

Run

dö

Ros

sö

Ram

söU

rsho

lmen

Bur

holm

en

Mör

holm

en

St.

Soc

kna

Gris

bå

dar

na

Gal

tö

Res

ö

Kal

vön

Hav

sten

s-su

nd

Tros

sö

Uls

holm

en Sol

usth

olm

en

San

näs

Hav

sten

Tjä

llesk

är

Juth

olm

en

Sal

thol

men

Arh

olm

en

Bis

sen

Tju

r-pa

nnan

Gre

bbe

-st

ad

Tor-

grim

men

St.

Sna

rt

Sp

iran

Per

sgru

nden

Seg

elsk

ären

Vitl

ing

-br

otte

t

Bre

dg

rund

en

Ram

skär

Lind

ön

Koc

khol

men

Daf

tön

NO

RG

E

SV

ER

IGE

Sø

ndre

San

døy

Nor

dre

San

døy

Sø

ndre

Sø

ster

Nor

dre

S

øst

er

Str

uten

Skj

elho

lmen

Sin

glø

ya

Kirk

øy

Asm

alø

y Vik

er

Spj

ærø

yU

tgår

dski

len

Kje

llvik

a

Skj

ærh

alde

n

Ves

terø

y

Gut

torm

svau

en

Kuv

auen

Fre

dags

høle

t

Fred

rikst

ad

Laue

r

Tis

ler

Hei

a

Her

føl

Nor

d-

kost

er

St.

Dra

mm

enK

lövn

inga

rna

Torb

jørn

skjæ

r

Skj

ersr

ibba

Ake

røya

Bra

ttes

tø

Rø

dshu

e

Sto

resa

nd

Hom

lung

en

Kol

leri

bba

Sto

re

Fla

teko

llen

Kus

kjæ

r Sto

ribb

a

Aln

e

Sk

ag

err

ak

Syd

-ko

ster

10

215

176 17

6 E6

77

229

27

247

212

19

3

9

5

7

121

12

3

11

114

12

29

106

225

12

189

13

178

128

15

7

220

244

448

462

458

249

9

5

7

11

12

34

56

7 km

0

KOSTERFJO

RD

EN

Dy

ne

kil

en

Sk

ag

err

ak

Fje

ll-kn

ause

ne

Nor

dre

Sto

reg

runn

Sø

ndre

Sto

reg

runn

Sin

gle

fjo

rde

n

Kve

rnsk

jær

Kob

ber-

nagl

er

Ram

sö-

kalv

en

Mar

ine

Res

earc

h,

Aq

uariu

m

Nat

iona

l Par

k C

entr

e

KO

ST

ER

HA

VE

T

NA

TIO

NA

L P

AR

K

YT

RE

HV

AL

ER

NA

TIO

NA

L P

AR

K

Buo

y

Ent

ranc

e to

the

natio

nal p

ark

Bird

pro

tect

ion

area

Sea

l pro

tect

ion

area

Sea

bed

pro

tect

ion

area

Info

rmat

ion

E

Toile

t em

ptyi

ng s

tatio

n

Boa

t was

hing

fa

cilit

ies

Rub

bish

Toile

t

Nat

ural

har

bour

Gue

st m

arin

a

Nat

iona

l bor

der

Nat

iona

l Par

k bo

unda

ryS

peed

lim

its

in p

lace

Qui

et A

rea

Wat

er d

epth

Ligh

thou

se

Roa

d

0 -

20 m

20 -

60

m

60 -

100

m

100

- 20

0 m

200

- 25

0 m

300

- 40

0 m

400

- 50

0 m

No

anch

orin

g

TH

OR

OU

GH

FA

RE

WIT

HO

UT

SP

E

EDLIM

ITS

Mae

rl, a

cal

care

ous

alg

a

NA

TIO

NA

L

PA

RK

SO

VE

R A

ND

UN

DE

R T

HE

SE

A

Ytre

Hva

ler

and

Kos

terh

avet

na

tiona

l pa

rks

cove

r a

mar

ine

area

of

alm

ost 8

00 s

quar

e ki

lo-

met

res.

Ytre

Hva

ler’s

info

rma-

tion

cent

re i

s in

Skj

aerh

alde

n on

the

islan

ds o

f H

vale

r w

hile

K

oste

rhav

et’s

visit

or

cent

re

(nat

urum

) is

plan

ned

to

be

on t

he is

land

s of

Kos

ter.

The

na

turu

m in

Sw

eden

will

be

sup-

plem

ente

d by

ent

ranc

e po

ints

at

Res

ö, R

ossö

, Tj

ärnö

/Sal

tö

and

in S

tröm

stad

. Kos

terh

avet

na

tiona

l par

k is

man

aged

by

a lo

cal m

anag

emen

t org

anisa

tion

whi

ch i

nclu

des

repr

esen

tativ

es

from

the

Cou

nty

Adm

inist

ra-

tive

Boar

d, l

ocal

com

mer

cial

fis

herm

en,

the

Dist

rict

Cou

n-ci

ls of

Tan

um a

nd S

tröm

stad

, G

öteb

org

Uni

vers

ity

and

lo-

cal

com

mun

ities

(K

oste

rhav

et

Part

ners

hip)

. Y

tre H

vale

r na

-tio

nal

park

will

hav

e a

loca

l m

anag

emen

t or

gani

satio

n w

ith

repr

esen

tativ

es

from

am

ong

othe

rs F

redr

ikst

ad a

nd H

vale

rs

Dist

rict

Cou

ncils

and

Øst

fold

C

ount

y C

ounc

il.

Tis

ler,

Ytr

e H

vale

r

Gra

zing

ani

mal

s in

the

arc

hip

elag

o

Ad

vent

ure

for

ever

yone

A s

and

sta

r

Cuc

koo

wra

sse

Not

for n

aviga

tiona

l use