[mynd 1 h]Support of local businesses for Coastal and Marine Management students can take different forms. Recently two local businesses made a donation to one of the CMM students to support a survey done last summer.

During the peak of summer, Natalie Chaylt, a Canadian master’s candidate in the Coastal and Marine Management program, was busy carrying out her research on tourists’ satisfaction of Ísafjörður’s whale-watching operators. More specifically, Westfjords Safari was the key tour operator she surveyed along with their passengers. As an incentive for the passengers who volunteered to participate in the survey, they were offered the opportunity to submit their email addresses and names and would be qualified to enter for two “Prize Draws”.

After a busy summer season, Chaylt contacted local businesses to see if they were interested in doing an in kind donation towards the grand prize. After receiving e-mail correspondences to confirm the donations she was very surprised to receive such charitable ones. First, she received confirmation of a generous in-kind donation of books from Ísafjörður’s Penninn/Eymundsson bookstore selling books since 1872. Steingrímur Rúnar Guðmundsson, bookstore manager presented Natalie with the following donations:

• “The Wonders of Whale Watching in Iceland” by Megan Whittaker, two copies, 66pgs. &
• “Puffins” by Colin Baxter, two copies, 32pgs and two scenic Icelandic postcards.

The hardcover books contain stunning photographs of puffins and whales in their natural environment and also include a wealth of information about the species most frequently found in Icelandic waters.

[mynd 2 h]On Friday, November 21st Katrín Líney Jónsdóttir, the West Tours office director, presented a Gift Certificate, for 10.000 ISK towards any tour offered by West Tours during the summer of 2015. Some sample trips include, a boat tour to Vigur Island; or a visit to the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve; a calm sea kayaking paddle in the fjord; or maybe another whale watching safari in Ísafjarðardjúp.

“I am exceptionally grateful to these two local businesses for their generous contributions – Takk fyrir” says Natalie. The photo books from Penninn/Eymundsson, along with the in kind gift certificate from West Tours will be sent by post to the lucky winner this week. The Grand prize goes to Ilene Christian, from the United States. We hope to see you back in the Westfjords very soon! The runner up, Miriam Kaufmann from Switzerland receives a set of books.