Author: Örvar B. Eiríksson

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Code of conduct for seal watching

Selaskoðun

The summer is here in Northwestern Iceland and visitors are increasing in our area and around seal colonies. We remind you of being careful around the seals and make sure not to disturb them.

It´s good to keep the following in mind:

Be mindful: The seals are in their natural habitat and we are observers.

Protect the seals from disturbance during seal watching:

  • Move gently, keep your voice down- never throw objects
  • Keep respectful distance (70-100m)- never touch
  • Never approach a sole pup- the female is nearby
  • Move away if seals show signs of disturbance- head-up/vigilance or fleeing
  • Drones scare the seals. No drones, please.
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Work with the seal research department this summer

Seal

Are you studying nature science at the university level in Iceland and are interested in seal research?

In cooperation with the Seal research department at the Icelandic seal center, the marine and freshwater institute is looking for an assistant to work with us in Hvammstangi, NW Iceland this summer. The work will include research and analysis of seal behavior and abundance in important haul-out sites in Northwest Iceland. The assistant will take part in fieldwork and analysis under the supervision of a specialist from the institute. The project aims to increase our knowledge of seal behavior in the haul-out and what factors are affecting the seals, such as anthropogenic disturbance, weather factors, etc. Such knowledge is important for example when developing population models and for the management of the seal populations in Iceland. The project leader is Sandra M. Granquist, whom you are welcome to contact if you have questions (sandra@hafro.is).
The position is taking place from 1 June- 15 August and the application deadline is 22 May.

More information, as well as the application form, can be found here:

https://form.vinnumalastofnun.is/sumarstorf/jobsview.aspx?pk_job_id=5345

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Gauja Hlín New Chair of NW Tourism Alliance

The North West Iceland Tourism Alliance elected Gauja Hlín as chair at its recent AGM.

Gauja is a tourism graduate from Hólar University College, and Manager of the travel agency Seal Travel; a subsidiary of the Icelandic Seal Centre.

We offer Gauja our best wishes in her new role.

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Vistor numbers Q1 2018 down 14%

The tourist information centre for Hunathing vestra at the Icelandic Seal Centre welcomed 1679 guests during the first three months of 2018. For the same quarter (Q1) in 2017 we welcomed 1958 guests. This is a Year-on-Year (YoY) 14% decrease in visitation.

Number of tickets sold to the museum also decreased in Q1 2018, by 10% YoY.

Decreases in visitation occurred in all 3 months, with January down 17%, February down 16%, and March down 13%. The decrease in visitation is partially explained by bad weather in January and February, as mountain passes to the North were frequently impassable, but this was not the case in March.

Q1 and Q4 is where the fewest visitors come to the centre, so this decrease does not have much significance to our total number of guests for the year – but these numbers may provide an indication of a cooling of the tourism sector in peripheral regions.