Grey Seal Welfare and Pup Rescue Programs

The grey seal is one of Britain most abundant large marine mammals, with its welfare encompassing pup rescue programs, entanglement in fishing gear, and conflicts with salmon fisheries.

Key Facts

The UK holds around 40% of the world population of grey seals, approximately 120,000 animals
Grey seal pups are born white and cannot swim initially; mothers feed them for three weeks then abandon them
They haul out in large colonies at traditional sites including the Farne Islands, Orkney, and Donna Nook
They are legally shot under licence at some salmon and sea trout fisheries where they cause damage
Entanglement in fishing gear is a leading cause of seal injury and mortality around UK coasts

Welfare Considerations

Grey seal welfare involves both individual animal and population-level considerations. Pup rescue operations by British Divers Marine Life Rescue handle hundreds of orphaned or injured pups annually. Entanglement in creel lines, nets, and monofilament fishing gear causes severe injury and drowning. Legal shooting at fisheries raises welfare concerns about shot placement and wounding rates. Phocine distemper virus outbreaks cause mass mortality events with significant individual welfare impacts.

What You Can Do

Support British Divers Marine Life Rescue seal rescue and rehabilitation programs
Never approach hauled-out seal pups, which are not abandoned but awaiting mothers return
Advocate for non-lethal seal deterrents as the preferred response to fishery conflicts
Report entangled seals to BDMLR seal hotline for immediate rescue response
Back fishing gear modification programs that reduce entanglement risk for seals