Harbor seals are the most common seals found around Iceland. Adult seals have grey and yellow spots on their backs and a light grey stomach. Their colour varies however according to age, sex, time of year and hair of the individual. Harbor seals can stay under water for about 30 minutes at a time and can reach down to a 200 meter depth. Although they spend half their lives on dry land. A count of the harbor seal population from 1980 showed that there were about 33.000 animals around Iceland. Another count was performed in 2016 which revealed a big decline in the population, there were only around 7.700 seals. For that reason the Environment and Health Council in Iceland has approved a proposal to protect the seals that live on the shores and in the ocean and river mouths around Reykjavik.
