England’s wild coast is a haven for grey and harbour seals, our two native species. They can be found around the coast, but mostly in the East of England and the South West.
Meet England’s Grey and Harbour Seals
England has just two species of native seals:
Grey seals
These are the larger of the two. They have long ‘dog-like’ faces and mottled grey coats, to help them blend into rocky beaches.
These seals give birth to fluffy white pups in autumn, often found lounging on sandbanks and remote coastlines, from Norfolk to Cornwall.
Harbour (common) Seals
These are smaller seals, with rounder (almost cat-like) faces, with large eyes. They prefer sheltered bayes, estuaries and tidal rivers.
The mothers raise their pups in early summer, teaching them to swim, within a few hours of birth.
Both species of seals are skilled hunters, who can chase fish and squid, through murky waters. They spend hours at sea, but need quiet spots on land to rest, moult and raise their young.
Disturbing seals on land (or at sea) can disrupt feeding and breeding.
Threats Facing Seals in England
Life for seals isn’t easy (most die before reaching adulthood due to illness or starvation). But human activities have made things even more difficult:
- Pollution: This can be from chemical run-off to raw sewage (untreated to oil spills).
- Litter: Seals can eat or get tangled in discarded plastic and other litter.
- Ghost Fishing Gear: Fishing nets can entangle seal and other creatures, leaving them unable to escape.
- Disturbance: If people and boats get too close to seals, this can lead to mothers being separated from their pups, or even abandoning them.
Practical Ways to Support Seal Conservation
- Report Raw Sewage. You can do this online or use the app from Surfers Against Sewage.
- Participate in volunteer beach cleans. This can be done individually or as part of a community action group.
- Live a simple sustainable life. Use less oil (this includes using waterless car washes, as untreated oily water from driveway or supermarket car washes goes untreated down storm drains, and into the sea. See our posts on oil-free cleaning, beauty and laundry brands.
- Read our post on how to prevent ghost fishing gear.
Never Disturb Seals and Their Pups
This is one of the major ways to help. Unfortunately, many people don’t follow advice.
- Seal volunteer groups have roped-off viewing stations, so always respect these.
- Disturbed seals may abandon pups (who could be spooked into the sea, before they can swim).
- Keep at least a football pitch distance away (if a seal is looking at you, you’re too close). Seals can also give nasty bites (akin to a rottweiler).
- Keep dogs away from seals. Seals often hide pups in sand dunes. You should not walk on sand dunes anyway), and keep dogs on leads, especially during breeding season. Seals in the water could attack dogs, if disturbed.
- Never play frisbee near seals (or land or water), as they can trap around the necks.
- Never paddle-board, surf or use jet skis near seals. The latter can separate mothers from pups if driven through the water, as well as causing injuries. Disturbing marine creatures is breaking Defra Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code.
- It’s illegal to harm seals. Some fishers get annoyed when seals eat fish (but this is the only food they have).
Tips for Photographing Seals (from Afar)
- 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. Try to blend in with the background.
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). RSPCA and the Coastguard can also put you through.
While you wait for help, stand between the pup and sea (to stop pups drowning or freezing).
Know that seals often spend time resting on land (especially after storms). If concerned, use binoculars or a zoom lens, to determine if the seal is okay or stranded/injured. Some seals 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).
To find out more on how to help seals, visit:
- Cornwall Seal Group.
- Friends of Horsey Seals (Norfolk)
- Seal Alliance
- Cornwall Seal Research Trust (share sightings around the SW (sightings@cornwallsealgroup.co.uk).
Where to Learn More About Seals
- Seal Secrets is a beautiful book by the founder of Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust, condensing knowledge from years of observing seals in the wild. Profits fund the charity’s work to help native wild seals.
- The Seal Alliance Protection Action Group is dedicated to protecting seals and habitats worldwide, to save those killed due to pollution, entanglement, loss of prey, boat collisions, noise pollution, climate change and 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. You can also take a WiSe Course (a few hours) to certify as a wildlife-friendly boater.
Main tips for sustainable sailors are:
- Don’t exceed 4 knots, when close to shorelines and banks. Slow down to no-wake speed, if you spot wildlife. Lower voices and turn off music.
- 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 (disturbed seals may move suddenly, dive into the water or look at you).
- Avoid travelling through groups of animals (nor rafts of birds) through the water, as this can split creatures from their young. Same applies to jet skis.
- 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.
Organic T-shirts & Hoodies (to help seals)
These gorgeous organic cotton t-shirts and hoodies (for men, women and children) are printed with renewable energy and eco inks, sent in zero-waste packaging. And a percentage of funds from sales benefit Seal Rescue Group Research Trust, to help their work in rescuing injured seals, then releasing them back to the wild.
Organic cotton is much better for the planet and wildlife, and also for the farmers that grow the cotton. Not only do the fibres last longer (as they are not treated by chemicals), but at end of use, the material safely biodegrades.
And you can launder these items safely, without releasing microplastics (in synthetic fibres like nylon or polyester) without harming lovely seals and other marine creatures.
