Join the ‘Give Seals Space’ Campaign
Join England’s Give Seals Space Campaign, supported by UK Seal Alliance. Despite recommendations from the Joint Nature Conservancy Committee (supported by Natural England and a House of Commons Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee Report), the government has rejected that seals be added to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (the primary legislation to protect wildlife in the UK).
This means that it’s up to all of us to campaign for a law to afford protection for seals from intentional or reckless disturbance. One example of this is people using jet skis (many local councils are now taking matters into their own hands and banning jet ski use. Which not only causes injury, but can drive through water and separate seals (and all marine creatures) from their young underwater.
The campaign is asking the government to urgently review its decision, and include seals as a protected species. The UK has over 11,000 miles of coastline and is rich in marine wildlife. Including Atlantic grey seals (rare worldwide and the UK has a third of the population) and smaller common seals.
All are risk from plastic and oil pollution, fishing waste, by-catch, jet skis, and drones. And people getting too close.
Also read our posts on how to help grey and common seals, and the campaign to ban flying rings.
What do seal conservationists want?
Every five years, the statutory nature conservation bodies in England work jointly to review lists of protected species. This is what ends up providing recommendations to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (plus ministers in Scotland and Wales) who can then decide on changes to laws.
The Joint Nature Conservancy Committee has staff with trusted expertise who provide the scientific evidence needed. One of its recommendations was to place both grey and harbour seals as protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
The government waited four years before responding in December 2025, and confirmed it would not implement any of the recommendations.
Why is giving seals space important?
Seals may look cute, but they are wild creatures who need to be left alone, with just expert volunteers helping if needed (that’s why there are ropes to cordon off viewing areas). Many seal pups can’t swim, and spooking them into the water could cause them to drown or freeze.
Dog walkers should always follow rules and keep away from areas with seals (including sand dunes where mothers often hide pups) in breeding season.
Even taking photos can cause stress (if a seal is looking at you, you are too close). Any kind of stress can cause physical injuries or trauma to both adult seals and pups (and again cause separation in the panic of trying to get away). Research shows that 68% of incidences when seals are disturbed, are due to human activity.
Flipper claws can get caught in rocky cracks when trying to escape, leading to profuse blood loss, and even fractures are sometimes observed. And activation of stress hormones can cause impaired growth, muscle wasting and immonosuppression. Chronic stress also makes seals more susceptible to viral infections like mouth rot and phocine distemper virus.
Like us, all seals need rest, relaxation and quality sleep for their wellbeing. And most females over five are likely to be expectant mums, so sleep deprivation affects them and unborn pups.
What can we do to help?
The general public and councils can get involved by displaying information signs and leaflets with tips to ‘Watch Seals Well’ and ‘Give People Space’. In a world of people on smartphones, it’s very important for people to know that getting too close to a seal can cause harm, and for pups to die, especially if separated from their mums.
Stay at least 100m away (around the size of a full length football pitch) from wild seals (if they are looking at you, you are too close).
It is normal for a seal pup to be left alone on a beach, while its mother is hunting. Do not approach or attempt to move it (this could frighten the mother away). If concerned, call British Divers Marine Life Rescue (that provides 24-hour emergency help and advice for any marine creature in distress).
Hopefully greater awareness will then persuade the government to change its mind, and give seals legal protection from intentional or reckless disturbance, like for many other species.
The aim is to replicate the success of the controversy over the Post Office Sub-Postmasters (this scandal was in the public domain for years, it was only a public campaign caused by awareness and a TV documentary) that eventually got something done. Public feeling is a powerful tool.
The Give Seals Space Campaign (which was launched on the spring bank holiday in May 2026) is hoping for success as soon as possible!
We are pleased to launch this campaign to raise awareness and bring about important changes that will ultimately protect our precious seals from harm. It was disappointing that the government rejected the recommendations that were based on many years of expertise. We hope it will now reflect and review their decision for seals, and give their habitat the protection they deserve. Sue Sayer MBE
Sign the online petition or scan this QR Code to get involved:
As a footnote – it’s possible we may soon see a new Prime Minister, who has indicated he would possibly work alongside Greens, who obviously would campaign on seal welfare. So now is a good time to encourage anyone in power to look at this legislation with fresh eyes, even in the new few weeks or months. Especially with pressure from fringe parties, who may play a part in putting votes through.
