Click on this 'thumbnail' for a picture of a Grey Seal. Orkney is fortunate to have a great diversity of wildlife. Species from the tiny goldcrest, a regular winter visitor, to the colourful puffin which can be seen congregating in great rafts on the summer seas. Both common and grey seals breed in significant numbers along our coastline and cetacean are regularly observed during periods of migration.
Wildlife can sometimes come into conflict with commercial interests.
Seabirds, cetacean and seals eat fish and are regarded by some fishermen as a threat to their livelihood, but it would be too simplistic to assume that by reducing any particular species such as seals, that this would result in more fish for human consumption. The marine environment is ecologically balanced, on land, in the sea, wherever, historically it is always man who disturbs this balance. Over fishing has contributed to serious reductions of our fish stocks. The sand eel is just one example. This tiny fish is a vital source of food for many creatures including larger fish such as cod.