Respect
Seals
We have two different species of seal living in Wales – the grey seal and the common/harbour seal. They look different, can act differently and live different lives, but they both need our help to keep them safe from disturbance from land and sea. The grey seal is by far the most common you will see in Wales. In the UK we have over 40% of the entire world’s population, so it’s important we know how to behave around them to ensure they can feed, breed, rest and swim safely.
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How to interact with seals
Sealpup on the beach
Grey seals in Wales
Seals: signs of distress
Noise disrupts seals
Seals & watercraft
Seals: keep your distance
How to look after Seals
Seals don’t like to be surprised. If you are in a quiet boat or kayak try if possible to stay at least 100 meters way, avoid creeping up on them and don’t surround them; so that they have a chance to swim away from you.
Noise disrupts seals. If you are in a powered boat keep your speed below 5 knots on arrival and departure, and don’t get too close. Stay at least 100 meters away. That is about the size of a football pitch.
Did you know that seals swim erratically and dive suddenly if they are scared? If you see them doing this when you are out on the water then you have got a bit too close.
If you see seals resting on the beach do not approach them, particularly between August and December when they may commonly pups. If they look like they are scared or aggravated, moving away from them can prevent a stampede into the sea.
If you find a white-coated pup on the beach alone, the chances are the mum is not too far away in the water somewhere. Please leave them there. Interfering with pups i.e. handling and transferring human smell, may cause the mum to abandon them.
It’s great to watch seals sun themselves on warm rocks under the summer sun. Get yourself a good vantage point on the cliffs above the beach and enjoy the spectacle. But do try to be quiet and discrete as even cliff-watching can disturb them.