Iceberg-watching has become an important part of Newfoundland and Labrador's tourism strategy. (CBC)

Iceberg enthusiasts on Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula will likely have to hit the road to indulge their senses, an expert said Thursday.

"It looks like we have just about nothing heading for the Avalon area," said Stephen Bruneau, a Memorial University professor who has tracked icebergs for years.

Bruneau said there is significantly less sea ice this year, which will have an impact on the number of icebergs that move south to the Newfoundland coast.

"The sea ice is what protects the bergs and keeps them from deteriorating quickly in open water," Bruneau told CBC News.

"There's a few dozen icebergs trapped west of the Great Northern Peninsula but they're already free-floating, and only a few have a chance of getting down this far south."

Newfoundland and Labrador is one of the few places on the planet where it is relatively easy to spot icebergs from the shore. The provincial government promotes iceberg watching as one of its key tourism draws.

Bruneau says the best place to spot an iceberg at the moment is St. Anthony, where about 40 to 50 bergs have been identified.