A tour ope­ra­tor has got a fine of 30,000.00 NOK (3,000 Euro) by the Sys­sel­man­nen for dis­tur­ban­ce of bree­ding birds at Ossi­an Sars­fjel­let in Kongsfjord. The ship run by the tour ope­ra­tor had drop­ped the anchor clo­se to the cliff with the colo­ny. The noi­se of the anchor chain cau­sed dis­tur­ban­ce of the birds, main­ly Brünnich’s guil­l­emots and kit­ty­wa­kes.

Brunich’s guil­l­emots and kit­ty­wa­kes (upper left, with chicks) at Ossi­an Sars­fjel­let.

Dis­tur­ban­ce of bree­ding birds can have serious con­se­quen­ces, for exam­p­le when eggs or flight­less chicks fall out of nests on nar­row led­ges or when pre­da­to­ry birds such as glau­cous gulls raid unguard­ed nests.