Grey and harbour (also known as common) seals are the two main species in the UK. They can be seen around our coastline for example on the Yorkshire, Norfolk, Kent and Cornwall. Seals are pinnipeds, which means they spend most of their lives at sea, but come to land to rest give birth, moult and avoid ocean predators.
Grey seals are much larger than common seals. they also have larger flat heads with longer snouts. While common seals have round heads with shorter noses.
Seals come to beaches and rocky areas to give birth, rest and digest food. Common seals give birth in summer and pups go into the water quite soon. But grey seals give birth at different times from the summer to the winter, and may take longer to take to the sea. Grey seal mums only feed pups for three weeks, before they must leave to feed themselves.
Simple Ways to Help Native Seals
Seals pups can’t swim when born so never disturb seals or their pups. This could spook them into the sea, to drown. Pups are often hidden by their mums in sand dunes, so keep dogs on leads and avoid walking near seals, in breeding season.
Keep at least 100 metres away (the same as a football pitch size). If a seal is looking at you, you’re too close. Seals can also give nasty bites that need medical attention.
It’s illegal to harm seals. Some fishers get annoyed when seals eat fish (but this is the only food they have).
Friends of Horsey Seals (Norfolk) and Seal Alliance, ask people around the UK not to use frisbees on beaches. These can trap around the necks of seals (who also play with such toys in water). Never walk, sail, motor, paddle or jetski near seals. Anyone disturbing local marine creatures is breaking the Defra Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code.
If photographing seals, stay well away and use binoculars or a camera with a zoom lens, avoid drones and stay downwind, as seals have an excellent sense of smell. Learn about photography best-practice around seals. Avoid high-contrast colours like white, yellow or red as they don’t see colour, so try to blend in with the background to avoid stress.
What To Do If You Find a Stranded Seal
If you see any marine creature in distress, call British Divers Marine Life Rescue for help (01825 765546). To find out more on how to help seals, visit Cornwall Seal Group.
While you wait for help, stand between the pup and sea (to stop pups drowning or freezing).
Seals will spend time resting on land (especially after storms). If concerned, use binoculars or a zoom lens, to see if the seal is okay or stranded or injured. Some seals simply have scars, due to previous encounters with fishing gear.
Small white fluffy seals should have mothers nearby, so watch and wait. If the pup has baggy skin or is coughing/sneezing with mucous or rapid breathing, it could be ill. Look for netting that may trap seals (some also shiver, could be cold or fear).
Where to Learn More About Seals
Seal Secrets is a beautiful book by the founder and director of Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust, condensing what the author has learned from years of studying these beautiful mysterious creatures.
After thousands of hours spent remotely observing grey seals in the wild, this book transports you to the underwater world of seals, with all profits from the book funding the charity’s mission of protecting our precious native wild seals.
The Seal Alliance Protection Action Group is dedicated to protecting seals and their habitats worldwide, to save the hundreds of thousands killed yearly due to pollution, entanglement, loss of prey, boat collisions, noise pollution and climate change. As well as hunting.
Pacific Marine Mammal Center is a US organisation that offers wonderful distance learning programs for adults and schools (this one is free) to help marine mammals.
How Sustainable Sailors Can Help Seals
The Green Blue has a free downloadable book on boating near wildlife. The main tips are to:
- Slow down to no-wake speed if you spot wildlife.
- Lower voices and turn off any music.
- Don’t exceed 4 knots, when close to shorelines and banks.
- A well-balanced clean propellor will disturb less sediment.
- Sensible use of throttle and good skills, reduces wash.
- Keep a consistent course, to avoid confusing wildlife.
- Never approach marine wildlife from behind.
- Avoid travelling through groups of animals (nor rafts of birds) through the water, as this can split creatures from their young.
- Follow advice from DEFRA’s Marine & Coastal Wildlife Code (do not chase, harass or make noise around seals, nor feed or touch them) and take all marine litter back to shore, to bin or recycle. Seals reacting to disturbance may wake up and look at you, move suddenly from resting positions or suddenly dive into the water.
Read more tips to be a sustainable sailor (including alternatives to anchoring, which can disturb marine creatures and seabeds).
Organic Clothes to Help Seals
Cornwall Seal Research Trust does wonderful work to protect seals, and you can share seal sightings around the SW (sightings@cornwallsealgroup.co.uk). These cotton tees and baseball shirts are all made from organic cotton, made with green energy and sent in plastic-free packaging. Profits help to fund their work.
Organic cotton is far better for the planet, and also does not leach microplastics back into the sea when laundered, which helps to protect all marine creatures. Also in children’s versions.
