Treaty regulating the Status of Spitsbergen and conferring the Sovereignty on Norway Document type Multilateral Field of application Global Date Feb 9, 1920 Source IUCN (ID: TRE-000156) Title (French) Traité concernant le Spitsberg Title (Other) Vertrag über Spitzbergen Place of adoption Paris Depository France Language English, French Entry into force Aug 14, 1925 Subject Wild species & ecosystems Keyword Sovereignty Dispute settlement Mining Exploration Access right Ecosystem preservation Hunting/capture Transport/storage Management/conservation Right of use Abstract Objectives: To recognise the sovereignty of Norway over the Archipelago of Spitsbergen, including Bear Island, and provide these territories with an equitable regime in order to assure their development and peaceful utilisation. Summary of provisions: Parties recognise the full and absolute sovereignty of Norway over the territories of the Archipelago of Spitsbergen as defined in art. 1, subject to the stipulations of the Treary. Some of these stipulations concern natural resources conservation and use, e.g.: ships and nationals of all Parties are to enjoy equally the rights of fishing and hunting in these territories and in their territorial waters; Norway is free to maintain, take or decree suitable measures to ensure the preservation and, if necessary, the reconstitution of the fauna and flora of the said regions, and their territorial waters (art. 2); nationals of all Parties are to have equal liberty of access and entry to the waters, fjords and ports of the territories specified in art. 1 (art. 3). Website emeritus.lovdata.no Country/Territory/Participant See Expanded View Show Map Countries Entry into force Ratification * Afghanistan Nov 23, 1925 Nov 23, 1925 [2] Albania Apr 29, 1930 Apr 29, 1930 [2] Argentina May 6, 1927 May 6, 1927 [2] Australia Aug 14, 1925 Dec 29, 1923 [1] Austria Mar 12, 1930 Mar 12, 1930 [2] Belgium Aug 14, 1925 May 27, 1925 [2] Bulgaria Oct 20, 1925 Oct 20, 1925 [2] Canada Aug 14, 1923 Dec 29, 1923 [1] Chile Dec 17, 1928 Dec 17, 1928 [2] China Aug 14, 1925 Jul 1, 1925 [2] Czech Republic Jan 1, 1993 Jun 21, 2006 [1] Denmark Aug 14, 1925 Dec 24, 1923 [1] Dominican Republic Feb 3, 1927 Feb 3, 1927 [2] Egypt Sep 13, 1925 Sep 13, 1925 [2] Estonia Oct 8, 1991 Oct 8, 1991 [2] Finland Aug 14, 1925 Aug 12, 1925 [2] France Aug 14, 1925 Sep 6, 1924 [1] Germany Nov 16, 1925 Nov 16, 1925 [2] Greece Oct 21, 1925 Oct 21, 1925 [2] Hungary Oct 29, 1927 Oct 29, 1927 [2] Iceland May 31, 1994 May 31, 1994 [2] India Aug 14, 1925 Dec 29, 1923 [1] Italy Aug 14, 1925 Aug 6, 1924 [2] Japan Aug 14, 1925 Apr 2, 1925 [2] Korea, Dem. People's Rep. Mar 16, 2016 Mar 16, 2016 [2] Korea, Republic of Sep 7, 2012 Sep 7, 2012 [1] Latvia Jun 13, 2016 Jun 13, 2016 [1] Lithuania Jan 17, 2013 Jan 17, 2013 [1] Monaco Aug 14, 1925 Jun 22, 1925 [2] Netherlands Aug 14, 1925 Sep 3, 1920 [2] New Zealand Aug 14, 1925 Dec 29, 1923 [1] Norway Aug 14, 1925 Oct 8, 1924 [2] Poland Sep 2, 1931 Sep 2, 1931 [2] Portugal Oct 24, 1927 Oct 24, 1927 [2] Romania Aug 14, 1925 Jul 10, 1925 [2] Russian Federation May 7, 1935 May 7, 1935 [2] Saudi Arabia Aug 14, 1925 Aug 14, 1925 [2] South Africa Aug 14, 1925 Dec 29, 1923 [1] Spain Nov 12, 1925 Nov 12, 1925 [2] Sweden Aug 14, 1925 Sep 15, 1924 [2] Switzerland Aug 14, 1925 Jun 30, 1925 [2] United Kingdom Aug 14, 1925 Dec 29, 1923 [1] United States of America Aug 14, 1925 Apr 2, 1924 [1] Venezuela, Boliv. Rep. of Feb 8, 1928 Feb 8, 1928 [2] * [1] Ratification [2] Accession/approbation [3] Acceptance/approval [4] Succession [5] Consent to be bound [6] Definite signature reset zoom out zoom in