Up early last Thursday, visiting the Common Seal colony at Blakeney Point by kayak. Three of us enjoyed quietly watching the hundreds of basking seals from an appropriate distance. Three or four swam out to see us in the tide race where we were sat, following our kayaks around. Most just continued to snore.
Another way to visit the colony is by tour boat. The photo below shows four tour boats simultaneously visiting the colony; another two were off to the right (should have taken the wide angle lens!). In a 90 minute period, we counted a dozen boats visiting the colony, then became profoundly depressed and gave up bothering to count any more.
Each tour boat was 25-40 foot long, crammed with dozens of tourists. Each emitted diesel exhaust fumes and at least one even had some kind of loud-hailer system with which to impart information to the customers. Most boats exceeded the harbour speed limit of 5 knots whilst ferrying tourists to and from the colony. Every boat went right up to the colony, practically at point blank range. If you went this close in a kayak they would certainly be disturbed, clearly over the years they have become immune to this constant harassment.
Eco-tourism.
Incidentally, every single tour boat which passed us warned us away from the seal colony, claiming that kayaks disturbed or harmed the seals. They appear to lack a sense of irony, thereabouts.
Another seal boat skipper passed us (a mile from any seals) and – astonishingly - responded to our wave of greeting by staring at us in pure hatred and repeatedly making throat-slitting gestures, whilst standing behind his customers. The words on the side of the boat read, ‘Beans Seal Trips’. I subsequently looked this company up; apparently they won a ‘best water based tourism’ award.
I know their cousins, the McBeans of Dunvegan. It must run in the blood.
Nice to hear that nothing’s changed. Pleasant folks up there aren’t they? Something about coins jingling in their pockets?
Yes,
The boat trip folks don’t like kayaks because the seals end up in the water and their fee paying passengers don’t get a good view of them….look out for this signs that say – see the seals of your money back…that could be a lot to do with it!
The seal boats are a bit of a Elephant in the Room hereabouts – everyone (inc National Trust, Wildlife trusts etc) knows that they are excessive, but no one wants to take on the issue as the businesses bring money in.
P.