Reponsible Boat Tours

Respect for Wildlife is our top priority at Mr Puffin.

Two Puffins sitting on a rock

Our wildlife watching tours at Mr Puffin are designed with responsibility and environmental stewardship at their core. Responsible wildlife watching isn‘t just a goal for us - it‘s how we do things.

Joining a responsible wildlife watching tour ensures minimal impact on birds, whales & dolphins, whilst enriching your experience. At Mr Puffin, we also embrace social responsibility, proudly fostering inclusivity, including being LGBTQIA+ friendly, to create a more meaningful adventure for all.

The Puffin Islands

Two of the Islands we visit, Akurey & Lundey, are protected nature reserves meaning we follow strict guidelines in order not to disturb the birds there.

Akurey Nature Reserve

Akurey

Akurey was declared a protected nature reserve in 2019, and has the largest puffin population of the three islands we visit, around 20,000. A wide variety of other seabirds nest in Akurey, such as the Herring Gull, Eider Duck & Black-headed Gull, as well as being an important wintering site for Cormorants.

  • Reduce our speed - We do not go faster than 4 knots in this area.
  • Be mindful of birds on the sea as well as on land.
  • We do not go ashore. This is prohibited on Akurey year-round.
Lundey Nature Reserve

Lundey

Lundey was declared a protected nature reserve in 2021, and has an estimated 10,000 breeding pairs of Puffins. A wide variety of other seabirds nest in Lundey, such as the Eider Duck & Arctic Tern.

  • Reduce our speed - We do not go faster than 4 knots in this area.
  • Be mindful of birds on the sea as well as on land.
  • We do not go ashore. This is prohibited on Lundey only during the breeding season (20 May to 20 August), however we never go ashore on our tours.
Engey Island

Engey

Engey has not been declared a protected reserve, however has an estimated 100 breading pairs, with the geography of the Island allowing our captains to position the boats exceptionally close to land. Despite not being a protected reserve, we still follow the same guidelines.

  • Reduce our speed - We do not go faster than 4 knots in the immediate vicinity of Engey.
  • Be mindful of birds on the sea as well as on land.
  • We do not go ashore.

Blue Flag

Mr Puffin is proud to have been awarded the Blue Flag through both of it‘s operators: Whale Safari & Elding Adventure at Sea.

Blue Flag Sign

The Blue Flag is a voluntary award, given to tourism boats the make a special effort to protect the environment. To attain the Blue Flag, we must fulfill a number of criteria covering:

  • Environmental Education and Information
  • Environmental Management
  • Safety and Services
  • Social Responsibility
  • Responsible Operation around Wild Animals

Becoming a Responsible Boat Operator

The most important part of operating our boats is the implementation of the criteria required in order to reduce our impact on the environment. Here are a few of the ways we achieve our work towards sustainability.

Crew Training

Staff Training

All Mr Puffin Employees receive a thorough training for safety & environmental issues upon introduction to the company, alongside annual staff training sessions. Staff learn about our recycling program & company ethos, with many of our staff already having a deep knowledge and understanding regarding environmental issues.

Recycling Bins

Responsible Waste Management

We have a thorough waste management system where waste is sorted into categories: Plastics, Paper/Cardboard, Organic, Batteries/Electrical, Oil & Hazardous Waste and Landfill waste. This ensures maximum recycling occurs within the office and onboard.

Eco Certifications

Staff Clothing & Cleaning Products

We only use cleaning products that have labels from eg. Nordic Sean, Ecolabel, Blue Angel & Tún, ensuring they are environmentally friendly. Our staff clothing, and clothing for sale, is sourced with the environment in mind such as products made with recycled cotton / polyester, and clothing is only renewed when absolutely necessary.

LGBTQIA+ Friendly

At Mr Puffin, we proudly stand in support the LGBTQIA+ community and remain dedicated to fostering inclusivity and equality.

Pride Logo

LGBTQIA+ Friendly

Our team is a vibrant and diverse group of individuals we‘re honoured to call our family. We uphold a strict zero-tolerance policy against discrimination, prejudice and hate of any kind. Creating a safe and welcoming environment is at the heart of hwat we do, ensuring that every guest and crew member feels valued and at home whilst with us.

Through one of our parent companies, Elding Adventure at Sea, we are supported of Hinsegin Dagar, or Reykjavík Pride, each year in August.