Marine Mammals

Common Seal Welfare and Population Decline

Common (harbour) seals have declined steeply in parts of the UK. Disease, habitat loss, and hunting pressure all contribute.

Key Facts

Common seal numbers in Orkney declined by 75% between 1992 and 2008
Phocine distemper virus killed around 30,000 seals in UK waters in 2002
Pups are born able to swim almost immediately
Common seals are smaller than grey seals - males typically 100kg
They are strongly tied to specific haul-out sites

Welfare Considerations

Phocine distemper virus outbreaks cause respiratory failure, convulsions, and death over days. Disturbance of haul-out sites causes animals to flush into the sea repeatedly, burning energy reserves. Entanglement in fishing gear causes the same suffering as with grey seals. Population declines may be linked to prey depletion, climate change, and disease load. Pups separated from mothers face starvation without rescue.

What You Can Do

Observe common seals at a distance of at least 100m from boats
Support SMRU (Sea Mammal Research Unit) monitoring programs
Donate to seal rescue centres such as the Cornish Seal Sanctuary
Advocate for marine protected areas covering key haul-out sites
Support policies reducing plastic and chemical pollution in Scottish waters