Wildlife

Common Seal Welfare in UK Estuaries

The common (harbour) seal inhabits sheltered estuaries and sea lochs around the UK and is particularly concentrated in Scotland, where it faces threats from disturbance, disease, and fisheries conflict.

Key Facts

UK holds around 30% of the European population of common seals
Much smaller than grey seals, with a dog-like rounded face
Pups can swim within hours of birth unlike grey seals
Phocine distemper virus caused catastrophic population crashes in 1988 and 2002
Scottish populations have declined significantly since the 1990s for unclear reasons

Welfare Considerations

Common seals face welfare threats from boat disturbance at haul-out sites, entanglement in fishing gear, and disease outbreaks. Scottish populations show worrying declines that may relate to prey availability changes. Responsible wildlife tourism and maintaining haul-out site tranquillity are important welfare measures.

What You Can Do

Maintain at least 100 metres from haul-out sites by sea or land
Follow Scottish Wildlife Trust seal watching guidelines
Report injured or dead seals to SMASS or BDMLR
Support campaigns for responsible boat tourism near seal sites
Donate to seal research programmes to understand population changes