Grey Seal Welfare: Breeding Colonies and Human Impacts

Grey seals are the UK largest native marine mammal and face welfare challenges from entanglement, disturbance, and interactions with fisheries.

Key Facts

The UK hosts around 40% of the global grey seal population, approximately 120,000 animals
Grey seals give birth to white-coated pups in autumn, which are vulnerable to storm surges and human disturbance
Plastic entanglement causes a distinctive wound around the neck as seals grow inside entangled loops
Grey seals face ongoing pressure from salmon and trout fisheries that advocate culling
Pup mortality in the first year averages 25-30% from natural causes including starvation and crushing

Welfare Considerations

Grey seal pups entangled in netting or plastic suffer chronic wound progression as they grow and the entanglement cuts deeper into the neck. Such wounds can be detected early but are difficult to treat without capture, which itself causes acute stress. Disturbance of breeding colonies by humans forces pups to enter the sea before they are ready, leading to cold stress and reduced survival. Shooting of seals by fisheries operators, both legal and illegal, causes traumatic death and sublethal injury. RSPCA and BDMLR seal hospitals rehabilitate hundreds of injured seals annually, providing welfare benefit at the individual level while systemic causes continue.

What You Can Do

Keep a minimum 100 metre distance from seal colonies, especially during the October to December pupping season
Never approach seals on beaches, as human presence causes abandonment of pups
Report any entangled seal to British Divers Marine Life Rescue immediately
Advocate for reduced plastic waste in marine environments through campaign support
Support seal rescue charities and oppose culling proposals through evidence-based advocacy