# Båtsfjord Municipality

Båtsfjord (Northern Sami: Báhcavuotna) is a municipality in Finnmark county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Båtsfjord (which is the only settlement remaining in the municipality). Båtsfjord Airport is a new, modern airport, located just outside Båtsfjord village. The Hurtigruten coastal express ferry also has regularly-scheduled stops in Båtsfjord village.
The 1,435-square-kilometre (554 sq mi) municipality is the 63rd largest by area out of the 357 municipalities in Norway. Båtsfjord is the 276th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 2,113. The municipality's population density is 1.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (3.9/sq mi) and its population has decreased by 4.3% over the previous 10-year period.
Historically, there were many other villages in the municipality, but they have been abandoned over the years. Some of these villages include Hamningberg (abandoned in 1964), Makkaur (abandoned in the 1950s), Sandfjord/Ytre Syltefjord (abandoned in 1946), Hamna (abandoned around 1950), and Nordfjord (abandoned in 1989).

## General information

Vardø Municipality was established on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law), encompassing the northeastern part of the Varanger Peninsula. In 1839, to comply with the formannskapsdistrikt law, the rural parts of the municipality, outside of the island/town of Vardø, were separated to form the new municipality of Vardø landdistrikt. Initially, Vardø landdistrikt had a population of 245. The new municipality was too small to be an official self-governing municipality, and it was not until 22 May 1868 when a royal resolution was passed that officially declared it a self-governing municipality. On 1 January 1874, a small part of Vardø landdistrikt (population: 48) was transferred to the town of Vardø. In 1956, the name was changed to Båtsfjord. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1964, the eastern fourth of Båtsfjord (population: 621) was transferred to the neighboring Vardø Municipality.
On 1 January 2020, the municipality became part of the newly formed Troms og Finnmark county. Previously, it had been part of the old Finnmark county. On 1 January 2024, the Troms og Finnmark county was divided and the municipality once again became part of Finnmark county.

### Name

The name was originally Vardø landdistrikt (and later Vardø herred) which both mean "the rural district of Vardø", since the municipality surrounded the town of Vardø. On 24 August 1956, a royal resolution changed the name of the municipality to Båtsfjord. This new name was chosen because the village of Båtsfjord (Old Norse: Botnsfjǫrðr) was the main population centre of the municipality. The first element is the genitive case of botn which means "the innermost part of a fjord". The last element is fjord which means "fjord". The village is located at the innermost part of a fjord, so the name has a very straightforward meaning.

### Coat of arms

The coat of arms was granted on 19 April 1985. The official blazon is "Azure, a fish hook argent" (Norwegian: I blått en hvit fiskekrok). This means the arms have a blue field (background) and the charge is a Stone Age bone fish hook. The fishing hook has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The blue color in the field and the fish hook was chosen for the great economic importance of fishing and fish processing in the municipality. The shape of the hook was derived from ancient Stone Age hooks found in the municipality. The arms were designed by Arvid Sveen after a proposal by Svein Harald Eliassen.

## Economy

Fishing permits (for salmon fishing) are sold for use on specific rivers including the Sandfjordelva, Syltefjordelva and Komagelva. A crab processing factory was started in 2015. About 20 to 30 million Norwegian kroner was the cost of investment. It initially employed 28 people.

## Government

Båtsfjord Municipality is responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, welfare and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads and utilities. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of directly elected representatives. The mayor is indirectly elected by a vote of the municipal council. The municipality is under the jurisdiction of the Indre og Østre Finnmark District Court and the Hålogaland Court of Appeal.

### Municipal council

The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Båtsfjord is made up of 15 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The tables below show the current and historical composition of the council by political party.
Båtsfjord kommunestyre 2023–2027 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 4 |
| | Båtsfjord List (Båtsfjordlista) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 15 |
Båtsfjord kommunestyre 2019–2023 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 5 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Centre Party (Senterpartiet) | 7 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 15 |
Båtsfjord kommunestyre 2015–2019 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 7 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 15 |
Båtsfjord kommunestyre 2011–2015 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 6 |
| | Båtsfjord List (Båtsfjordlista) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 15 |
Båtsfjord kommunestyre 2007–2011 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) | 2 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 15 |
Båtsfjord kommunestyre 2003–2007 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 2 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Båtsfjord Cross-Party List (Båtsfjord Tverrpolitiske Liste) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 15 |
Båtsfjord kommunestyre 1999–2003 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 9 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 6 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Båtsfjord Cross-Party List (Båtsfjord Tverrpolitiske Liste) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Båtsfjord kommunestyre 1995–1999 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 11 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 2 |
| | Båtsfjord Cross-Party List (Båtsfjord Tverrpolitiske Liste) | 5 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Båtsfjord kommunestyre 1991–1995 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 12 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Båtsfjord kommunestyre 1987–1991 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 14 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 5 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 1 |
| | Liberal Party (Venstre) | 1 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Båtsfjord kommunestyre 1983–1987 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 15 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Båtsfjord kommunestyre 1979–1983 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 13 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 6 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Båtsfjord kommunestyre 1975–1979 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 13 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Båtsfjord kommunestyre 1971–1975 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 16 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Socialist common list (Venstresosialistiske felleslister) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 21 |
Båtsfjord kommunestyre 1967–1971 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 12 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Båtsfjord kommunestyre 1963–1967 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 4 |
| | Socialist People's Party (Sosialistisk Folkeparti) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Båtsfjord herredsstyre 1959–1963 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 11 |
| | Conservative Party (Høyre) | 3 |
| | Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 3 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Båtsfjord herredsstyre 1957–1959 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 10 |
| | Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 4 |
| | Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) | 1 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 17 |
Vardø landdistrikt herredsstyre 1951–1955 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 2 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 7 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Vardø landdistrikt herredsstyre 1947–1951 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 7 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 9 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Vardø landdistrikt herredsstyre 1945–1947 :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 8 |
| | Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 4 |
| | List of workers, fishermen, and small farmholders (Arbeidere, fiskere, småbrukere liste) | 2 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 2 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
Vardø landdistrikt herredsstyre 1937–1941* :
| Party name (in Norwegian) | Party name (in Norwegian) | Number of representatives |
| | Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) | 6 |
| | Communist Party (Kommunistiske Parti) | 4 |
| | Local List(s) (Lokale lister) | 6 |
| Total number of members: | Total number of members: | 16 |
| Note: Due to the German occupation of Norway during World War II, no elections were held for new municipal councils until after the war ended in 1945. |||

### Mayors

The mayors (Norwegian: ordfører) of Båtsfjord:
* 1869-1869: Hans Juel Borchgrevink
* 1869–1870: Erik Hansen Bjerke
* 1871–1873: Oscar Lindboe
* 1874–1878: Erik Hansen Bjerke
* 1879–1880: Jakob Hundseth
* 1881–1882: Martin Hundseth
* 1883–1886: Hans Christian Enoksen
* 1887–1896: Radmand Sundfær (H)
* 1897–1898: Nils Hamborg (V)
* 1899–1901: Johan Isaksen (H)
* 1902–1904: Nils Hamborg (V)
* 1905–1907: Albert Moe
* 1908–1910: Mathias Fuglevik (V)
* 1911–1913: Johannes Sundfær
* 1914–1916: Iver Paulsen (Ap)
* 1917–1919: Johan A. Abrahamsen
* 1920–1925: Arne Hansen
* 1926–1928: Johan A. Abrahamsen
* 1929–1931: Richard Lind (Ap)
* 1932–1934: Thorleif Schirmer (Ap)
* 1935–1945: Alfred Halvari (NKP)
* 1946–1947: Johan Mikalsen (Ap)
* 1948–1963: Leif Nervik (Ap)
* 1964–1975: Ole Martin Nakken (Ap)
* 1975-1975: Einar Sørnes (Ap)
* 1976–1983: Arne Gundersen (Ap)
* 1984–1987: Peder Karlsen (Ap)
* 1988–1991: Tore Gundersen (Ap)
* 1991-1991: Aslaug Eriksen (Ap)
* 1992-1999: Leif Arne Viken (Ap)
* 1999-2003: Just Hjalmar Johansen (H)
* 2003-2007: Geir Knutsen (Ap)
* 2007-2009: Frank Bakke-Jensen (H)
* 2009-2011: Gunn Marit Nilsen (H)
* 2011-2019: Geir Knutsen (Ap)
* 2019–2021: Ronald Wærnes (Sp)
* 2021-2023: Lone Johnsen (Sp)
* 2023-present: Øyvind Hauken (LL)

## Geography

The municipality covers an area of 1,433 square kilometres (553 sq mi) including Finnmark's highest mountain pass over Ordofjell at 400 metres (1,300 ft) above sea level. It is situated on the northeastern coast of the Varanger Peninsula, on the rocky coastline of the Barents Sea. There are no native trees due to the climate. The Varangerhalvøya National Park lies in the southern part of the municipality. Makkaur Lighthouse lies along the shoreline, near the mouth of the Båtsfjorden, northeast of the village of Båtsfjord. The highest point in the municipality is the 633.85-metre (2,079.6 ft) tall mountain Skipskjølen, located on the border with Vadsø Municipality.
Climate data for Båtsfjord :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −6.5 (20.3) | −6.4 (20.5) | −4.4 (24.1) | −1.2 (29.8) | 3.0 (37.4) | 7.5 (45.5) | 11.0 (51.8) | 10.0 (50.0) | 6.5 (43.7) | 1.5 (34.7) | −2.2 (28.0) | −5.0 (23.0) | 1.2 (34.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 48 (1.9) | 38 (1.5) | 35 (1.4) | 32 (1.3) | 30 (1.2) | 39 (1.5) | 49 (1.9) | 59 (2.3) | 60 (2.4) | 59 (2.3) | 48 (1.9) | 48 (1.9) | 545 (21.5) |
| Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute ||||||||||||||
Previously, there were several villages along this barren coast, but today everyone lives in the village of Båtsfjord, with a sheltered harbor at the end of the Båtsfjorden inlet. Among the now-abandoned fishing villages is Hamningberg on the outer coast, which has many well-preserved 19th century wooden houses. Now, it is only used for summer vacation stays. The world's northernmost gannet colony to be found on the stack at Syltefjordstauran, along the Syltefjorden, north of the now-abandoned village of Nordfjord. Two pairs were discovered in 1961, but the colony has now grown to well over 300 pairs.

## Buildings and structures
### Churches

The Church of Norway has one parish (sokn) within the municipality of Båtsfjord. It is part of the Varanger prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland. The main church is Båtsfjord Church. There are two other small chapels, but they are only used for special occasions since they are located in uninhabited areas that are only used for summer cottages.
Churches in Båtsfjord :
| Parish (sokn) | Name | Location of the church | Year built |
| Båtsfjord | Båtsfjord Church | Båtsfjord | 1971 |
| Båtsfjord | Hamningberg Chapel | Hamningberg | 1949 |
| Båtsfjord | Syltefjord Chapel | Nordfjord | 1934 |

### Mast for broadcasting

* 241-metre (791 ft) high guyed mast for FM-/TV-broadcasting. See List of tallest structures in Norway.

## Notable people

* Geir Knutsen (born 1959), a politician
* Frank Bakke-Jensen (born 1965), a politician who was Mayor of Båtsfjord from 2007 and Minister of Defence since 2017
* Gjert Ingebrigtsen (born 1966), a sports coach
* Jan Thore Grefstad, (Norwegian Wiki) (born 1978), a rock singer and songwriter