🦭 Common Seal Welfare

Wildlife WelfareMarine MammalsSealsConservation

Concern: Common (harbour) seal numbers have declined significantly in parts of the UK, particularly in the Wash and some Scottish estuaries. Understanding seal welfare helps people respond appropriately when encountering seals in the wild.

About Common Seals

The common seal (Phoca vitulina), also called the harbour seal, is one of two seal species breeding in the UK (alongside the larger grey seal). Common seals are smaller, with a rounder, dog-like face distinguishing them from the longer-snouted grey seal. They haul out on sandbanks, rocks, and beaches to rest, thermoregulate, and pup. Pups are born able to swim from birth — they do not have the white fluffy coats of grey seal pups.

Welfare Challenges

Population Decline

Common seal numbers in parts of the UK have declined significantly since the 1990s, with some populations showing 40–50% reductions. The causes are complex and include:

Phocine Distemper Virus (PDV) outbreaks — mass mortality events (1988, 2002) killed tens of thousands of seals
Changing prey availability linked to North Sea ecosystem shifts
Pollution and contaminants affecting reproductive success
Entanglement in fishing gear
Disturbance at haul-out and pupping sites

Disturbance

Human disturbance of hauled-out seals causes welfare harm:

Seals flushed repeatedly from haul-out sites expend energy and experience stress
Pups separated from mothers by disturbance may fail to obtain adequate milk
Kayakers, paddleboarders, and walkers approaching too closely are significant disturbance sources
Drone flights over seal colonies cause flushing events

Fishing Gear Entanglement

Seals entangled in fishing nets and ropes suffer severe injuries and drown. Ghost gear (lost fishing equipment) continues to trap marine animals. Seals may also be shot by fishers protecting fish stocks — illegal in the UK since 2021 except under specific licence.

Plastic Pollution

Seals ingest plastic or become entangled in plastic packaging, fishing line, and packaging bands. Neck entanglement in packaging bands causes severe lacerations as seals grow.

Responding to Seals in Need

When NOT to Intervene

A seal resting on a beach is not necessarily in trouble — this is normal behaviour
A seal pup alone on a beach is not necessarily abandoned — mothers leave pups for hours at a time
Observe from a distance (minimum 100 metres) and do not approach

When to Call for Help

Seal is visibly injured (wounds, entanglement, emaciation)
Seal is clearly distressed or disorientated
Pup alone for more than 24 hours with no signs of mother returning
Seal in a dangerous location (road, urban area)

Contact BDMLR (British Divers Marine Life Rescue): 01825 765546 — 24-hour emergency line.

Watching Wildlife Responsibly: The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects common seals and their pups. Intentionally disturbing hauled-out seals is an offence. The Seal Alliance provides guidance on responsible seal watching: stay low, move slowly, keep dogs on leads, maintain at least 100m distance.