Marine & Aquatic

Marine: Seal Entanglement in Fishing Gear Welfare

Grey and common seals in UK waters are increasingly entangled in discarded or lost fishing gear, causing serious injuries and deaths.

Key Facts

Seal entanglement in netting is documented in hundreds of individuals annually
Marine debris including lost crab pots and net fragments are major hazard
Entanglement causes wounds, infection and drowning depending on gear type
British Divers Marine Life Rescue responds to entangled seal reports
Sea entanglement gear removal requires trained and equipped responders

Welfare Considerations

Seals caught in rope or netting experience progressive injury from constriction as they grow or struggle. The injuries can take months to cause death through infection, starvation or drowning. Early intervention by trained wildlife rescuers can save individual animals but prevention requires fishing gear management.

What You Can Do

Report entangled seals to BDMLR (0345 201 2626) immediately
Properly dispose of all fishing line and gear to prevent marine debris
Support campaigns for biodegradable fishing gear and ghost gear removal
Never remove entanglement gear yourself unless trained - it causes stress