Anger at boat owners drilling mooring holes in Raet National Park - NRK Sørlandet

NRK meets Jenny Marie Gulbranson, Park Manager at Rhade National Park in Arendal.

She is unnerved by the attitude of some people on the boat.

– It has become a practice now that people have bought bigger boats and we see this as a serious crime. He says this is irreparable damage to the protected reef.

Now he writes that it happened again in Grundesholmen and in Arendal near Flosta in Sundiviga. AgderpostenHe was the first to write on the subject.

– People should have folk customs

NRK spoke to a landowner in the same area who removed nine such illegal bolts last year.

– I think it’s absolutely terrible that people settle in this way, especially in a national park.

The person will remain anonymous.

– People need to think. It is about folk custom. It’s like I’m walking in their garden and digging around, he says.

The landlord explains that he found several bolts attached to the rock walls, which he disconnected.

– People feel more comfortable when they bring an impact drill from home and drill a hole.

Landlord calls extra police on archipelago.

destroying the national park

Park manager Gulbrandsen said it’s scary to think that boaters can manage remote and protected areas this way.

– The geography is damaged and creates the impression that it is okay to do this. It’s not, she insists.

Raed National Park is a protected marine nature area stretching from Grimstad to Tvedestrand.

A heavy penalty will be imposed

Last year, a case was reported to the Norwegian Environment Agency.

– This resulted in a proposal of NOK 15–16,000 for two bolts. I hope we can get a similar case here, otherwise a police report will be filed,” Gulbransen says.

He says because boat owners often move quickly along the coast, it is difficult to pursue illegals through the barriers.

The national park manager is encouraging the public to take a picture of the registration number on the boat if they see someone bolting in an illegal spot.

– How do you want boat owners to park their boats in the archipelago?

– Boat owners should use mobile rock wedges that can be driven into cracks and rocks. If you have a large boat, you will need to find another port. He says the outer archipelago was not designed to accommodate large, powerful boats in stormy weather.

Now national park manager Jenny Marie Gulbransen is taking the case from Flosta in Arendal to the national park board and the police.