Act No. 85 of 2005 relating to legal relations and management of land and natural resources in the county of Finnmark (Finnmark Act)

This Act provides for the management of land and natural resources in the county of Finnmark. This shall be done in a balanced and ecologically sustainable manner for the benefit of the residents of the county and particularly as so as to enhance Sami culture, reindeer husbandry, use of non-cultivated areas, commercial activity and social life. The Act shall apply to real property and watercourses with natural resources in the county of Finnmark. On the shoreline, the Act shall apply as far out to sea as private right of ownership extends. The Act principally defines and regulates land ownership in Finnmark and provides for the establishment of Finnmarkseiendommen ( the Finnmark Estate ), being an independent legal entity with its seat in Finnmark, which shall administer the land and natural resources, etc. that it owns in compliance with the purpose of this Act. The board of Finnmarkseiendommen shall be responsible for management of the Finnmark Estate. The Act sets out the principles of management of renewable resources, being mainly wildlife and fish resources. Residents of a municipality in the county of Finnmark have on Finnmarkseiendommen s land in the municipality the right to fish and fell trees as specified in section 22. Persons residing in the county of Finnmark have the right to hunt big and small game, fish in watercourses with a rod and line, pick cloudberries and remove timber for home crafts (sect. 23). The Finnmark Commission is established under section 29. It shall investigate rights of use and ownership of land taken over by Finnmarkseiendommen. A special court (the Uncultivated Land Tribunal for Finnmark) shall be established, which shall consider disputes concerning rights subject to investigation by the Commission.