The Icelandic Seal Center has together with landowners, started up a research project, where the effect of increasing tourism pressure on seals will be investigated. The summer of 2008, a pilot study was made in the area, and similar studies will be carried out the following three summers. The effect of direct disturbance from tourists on the behaviour of seals will be investigated, as well as if the number of tourists in the seal watching site has a negative effect on the numbers of seals hauling out in the skerries.

Countings of seals wil also be carried out at the haul-out site in Hindisvík, where tourists are not allowed access since the summer of 2008. In Hindisvík, the researchers will follow up if the number of seals will increase in the absence of tourists.

The study was made on behalf of the project The Wild North, a nordic co-operation project. The aim of The Wild North is to ensure the sustainable development of wildlife tourism. Similar studies are made by Húsavík Research Center (the effect of tourism on whales), Nature Research Institute of Nortwest Iceland (the effect of tourism on birds) and The Arctic Fox Centre (the effect of tourism on the artic fox).

The Wild North's new  project manager is Per Ivar Larsen           This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Photo: From Illugastaðir (Pétur Jónsson)

• The Wild NorthAnnual Report 2009  / The behaviour and abundance of harbour seals