Surtsey Nature Reserve

Strict nature reserve covering the volcanic island of Surtsey (formed 1963) and the surrounding ocean, ~65 km2 in total, off the south-west coast of Iceland in the Vestmannaeyjar (Westman Islands) municipality. Access is by permit from the Surtsey Research Society / Environment Agency only; going ashore and diving by the island are prohibited, and a strict protection regime bans disturbance of natural features. Spearfishing (which requires diving/free-diving by the island) is therefore not permitted in the reserve. Bottom-towed net fishing was banned in the core zone in 2006.