Author: Páll Línberg Sigurðsson

Recently a bearded Seal has been spotted in Borgarfjorður East. It has been in the shore for around three weeks but Bearded Seals are quite rare in the area. This is the second sighting that has been reported to the Seal Center in a short peroid of time. See here.  

The bearded seal is bigger then the harbour seal, but smaller than a fully grown grey seal. His primary distinctive features are very long whiskers. More information on bearded seals can be found here.

We thank the people that reported this sighting. It is imporant for our specialists to get reports on sightings of rare seal speicies at the coast of Iceland. 

 

Photo: Hafþór Snjólfur

On may 13th travellers on a skitrip with  Aurora Arktika spotted a Bearded Seal at the shore of fjord Veiðileysa in the Westfjords. Bearded Seals are rare visitors in Iceland and can be recognized by the beard they are named after. Further information on Bearded Seals can be found here. 

We thank our friends at Aurora Arktika for notifying us but it is very important for our specialists to get notifications on sightings of rare seal speicies at the coast of Iceland. 

Photo: Roland Tomascko

In the latest edition of Feykir, a local newspaper, is an article on a harpseal pup being found at the shore close to Sauðárkrókur. The article contains a short interview with Sandra Granquist the head of biology research department at the Seal Center. She was contacted in order to get information regarding the pup when it was found.

It is important for our specialists to get information like this, especially regarding species that normally do not breed here. 

More information on Harp Seals can be found here.

 

 

The Article in Feykir newspaper.

Last year Sarah Marschall worked on her research on tourist behaviour at Illugastaðir on the Vatnsnes Peninsula. 

Today, April 28, at 2pm, Sarah will present and defend her master’s thesis, titled: Interpretation in Wildlife Tourism: Assessing the effectiveness of signage to modify visitor’s behaviour at a seal watching site in Iceland.

Sarah’s thesis advisors are Sandra M. Granquist, a PhD candidate at Stockholm University and Head of Seal Research Department at the Icelandic Seal Centre, and Dr. Georgette Leah Burns, Head of Rural Tourism Department at Hólar University. The reader is Rodrigo Menafra, a visiting instructor at the University Centre of the Westfjords.

More information and an abstract can be found here.

Sarah Marschall in the field.

A joint position at the Icelandic Seal Center and Hólar University College

We are looking for a research scientist and faculty member at the Icelandic Seal Center and Holar University College, Department of Rural Tourism. The Icelandic Seal Center was founded to foster pinniped research in Iceland, to promote sustainable tourism in the area, and to educate the general public about seals. At Hólar University College, a small, highly specialized college, the Department of Tourism offers diploma, BA, and MA programs in tourism studies and event management. The campus is located in Northern Iceland, about a two-hour drive from the Icelandic Seal Center in Hvammstangi, where the research position will be based. The village of Hvammstangi is family friendly and the location offers great access to nature. See our websites: www.selasetur.is and www.holar.is

The position entails:

• Research and teaching
• Involvement in the development of local nature-based and rural tourism related to seals
• Leadership in developing and implementing new research projects

 We are looking for a person with:

• PhD in tourism studies or related fields
• Experience in project management, research, teaching, and tourism development
• Good personal skills and able to manage diverse collaborations

 The position starts August 15^th 2015; application deadline is May 15^th 2015.

Applications, including a CV, academic records, and two letters of recommendation should be sent to: Erla Björk Örnólfsdóttir, Holar University College, 551 Saudárkrókur, ICELAND or by e-mail to umsoknir@holar.is.

For further information please contact the Holar University College Rural Tourism Department Head, Dr. Georgette Leah Burns +(354) 863 0308 leah@holar.is or the Icelandic Seal Center Director, Unnur Valborg Hilmarsdóttir,+(354)451 2345, selasetur@selasetur.is

All applications will be responded to when the hiring process is over.