I was about to boggle at that, but I think I've worked it out - the film's take on the Seal People could be seen as a bit African in appearance (though I think probably they were intended to be more Native American).

They look like this I'm afraid...:

The setting is definitely Scotland though, the Scottish bits were all filmed in the Highlands. It looks cold, it rains a lot...

The Southern Britain bits were filmed in Hungary and possibly look a bit too warm and European.