A tourist to the Svalbard archipelago in the Norwegian Arctic has been fined almost $1,100 (£900) for approaching a walrus too closely.

When a man was observed approaching the animal from an ice floe, members of the public reported the incident to the local authorities.

On Svalbard, it is illegal to approach animals in a way that disturbs it.

The world's northernmost settlement, Longyearbyen, is not far from where the incident occurred.

According to the Svalbard Environment Act, all transportation on the archipelago must be conducted in a way that avoids needlessly upsetting the native fauna, which includes arctic foxes, seals, whales, reindeer, and polar bears.

The governor has encouraged everyone to keep a good distance from walruses so that they are not disturbed and to avoid danger to people.

Police prosecutor Magnus Rindal Fredriksen told the BBC that parts of the incident were observed by several of the governor's employees.

The incident happened "very close to Longyearbyen, at the bottom of the fjord", said Mr Rindal Fredriksen, adding that the tourist, who is a Polish citizen and had arrived in the area on the same day, was brought to the governor's office and paid the fine.

Why did he do it? He was after a good picture, the police prosecutor believes.

Spring and summer are popular with tourists in Svalbard, with many visiting the almost untouched archipelago in the high Arctic while the sun doesn't set at night during what's known as the "midnight sun".

Walruses in Svalbard became protected in 1952 when it became clear only a few hundred remained following more than three centuries of heavy commercial exploitation.

The population of walruses has been growing since the measures were put in place but the species remain on the Norwegian National Red List.

Because of concerns over the impact of tourism and climate change, the Norwegian government has announced tougher regulations, coming into place next year, that include a ban on getting within 150 metres of a walrus.

Other measures include a cap on cruise ships and designated landing sites.