A Dundee man has criticised the “wilful disregard” shown by a pair of jet-skiers who got too close to seals at Tentsmuir.
Derek Paton was visiting the popular nature reserve on Sunday afternoon when he spotted two people on bright yellow jet-skis coming from the north.
He watched as they sped around close to the seals “causing obvious disturbance” for some time before heading off in the direction they had come.
Upset by what he had witnessed, Mr Paton reported the sighting to a warden.
He said, “There is a notice up that the seals will be pupping in October, so they are pregnant now.
“The jet-skiers came very close to the shore on their way back.
“They were certainly having a ball, but my concern is the reaction of the seals their heads were bobbing up in the water.
“It reminded me of dogs in amongst sheep their presence and the noise they made must surely have disturbed the seals.”
Tentsmuir is one of the few places on the east coast of Scotland where both grey and common seals can be seen together.
There have been complaints already this summer about jet-skiers getting too close to dolphins in the Tay estuary and the police and the SSPCA have urged people to act considerately and carefully.
The Scottish marine wildlife watching code asks anyone coming upon animals while on the water to reduce their speed to the minimum consistent with safety, make sure their movements are steady and predictable and that animals are not approached directly.