At the present time the Underwater Club of Moscow State University carries out an expedition in search of Greenland seal-rookeries in the northwest part of the White Sea, which should contribute significantly in development of eco-tourism on the Russian North and to make for stoppage of barbarian business of seal-calves.

There are 5 species of seals, living in the White Sea. All seals of the White Sea, except of Greenland ones, grow seal-calves one by one, hide them in the ice-hummocks and one can find them only with help of a specially learnt dog.

Unlike these species, cows of a Greenland seal calve on the open ice and make huge gatherings. And the zone, where calves lie, is open and there are hundreds of thousands of them. The main mass of seals is on the border of ice and open water in an entrance to the White Sea, on the line Chapoma - Winter Zolotitsa. This is a place of seal-calves and accordingly a concentration of business force here. Last centuries a trade of grown-up Greenland seals was often in the White Sea, but one could not touch seal-calves, as they were recourse for a trade. During the Fifties the situation has changed, because a trade of the grown-up Greenland seals has lost its significance (their oil was necessary for production of technical oils, but they became synthetic). Those times a cruel trade of seal-calves for fir has been organized, which has been lasting till now. Efforts of environmental organizations are not yet successful, as today generations of fishermen think that this trade is traditional and moreover these are working places, which should be replaced with something. Tourism in these far villages (Chapoma, Winter Zolotitsa and Koyda) is very poor, because of problems with transport there are only helicopters there, which are expensive and unreliable).

It's known very little, if Greenland seals breed in another arias of the White Sea.

Last years there were preliminary data, that an annual gathering of Greenland seals appeared in the area of island Velichaikha, growing their breed and, consequently, plenty of seal-calves should be there.

This is a very prosperous place for eco-tourism; it has its meaning as a local recourse (the north coast of Karelia). And moreover, development of eco-tourism connected with seal-calves in the west part of the White Sea can influence greatly on the situation on the East (Chapoma, Winter Zolotitsa and Koyda) and, probably, break the situation with development of seal-calves' trade there - to stop and change it on eco-tourism.


Official web site of the expedition