Norway’s environmental crime agency warns of toxic threat from dumped leisure boats

Norway’s environmental crime agency, Økokrim, has issued a warning about the severe environmental hazards posed by abandoned leisure boats, which are leaking toxic and carcinogenic substances into the Oslofjord, Dagbladet reports.

Every year, the Oslofjord becomes a dumping ground for discarded recreational vessels, many of which contain hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, asbestos, and oil. As the boats degrade, these pollutants seep into the marine ecosystem, posing serious risks to both wildlife and human health.

“This form of pollution poses a major risk of emissions and has serious consequences for marine life, as the boats may contain environmental toxins,” Økokrim stated in its threat assessment.

Espen Søilen, director of Oslofjordens Friluftsråd (Oslofjord Outdoor Council), highlighted the scale of the problem, noting that around 1,500 tonnes of wrecked boats are retrieved annually from the Oslofjord alone—excluding those still submerged. He warned that the issue is worsening as boats from the 1970s and 1980s reach the end of their lifespan.

“We see every year how big the problem of wrecked boats is in the Oslofjord,” Søilen said. “A mandatory small boat register would make it easier to identify owners and hold someone accountable for pollution and illegal dumping.”

A recent survey by Opinion, commissioned by Oslofjordens Friluftsråd, found that 75 percent of Norwegians support introducing a compulsory register for small boats. Additionally, 64 percent indicated willingness to pay an annual fee of 250 kroner (around €22) for such a system.

Last autumn, the Outdoor Council, along with several municipalities and organisations, formally requested that Norway’s Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Marianne Sivertsen Næss, establish a mandatory small boat register. Authorities are now examining how such a register could be implemented.

“The numbers speak clearly: people want a small boat register, and our fjord depends on it,” Søilen stated.

Despite existing scrappage schemes, many boat owners opt to sink their vessels rather than pay for proper disposal, exacerbating the environmental threat.