Seal Group get press coverage to help reduce seal disturbance.

The Seal Group have received excellent support from the local press this week in their quest to reduce seal disturbance. The Cornishman, West Briton and Western Morning News have all carried articles based around our press release issued last weekend. Additional coverage by Westcountry TV was a real bonus in our attempt to get the disturbance message across to local people and visitors alike.

Louise Midgely (left): Hauled seals easily disturbed (Middle): Talking about disturbance causes & solutions (right)

Key points covered in reports about Seal Disturbance

• The north Cornish coast is the main ‘Service Station’ on the Seal ‘Motorway’ between France, SW Wales and SW Ireland.
• 4 different species of seal have been spotted here in the last 2 years – Grey, Common, Hooded, Harp. (Rare, lone creatures of last 3 species only.)
• Most seals are passing through, the most frequent seal visitors are only ‘semi resident’.
• Some seals would haul out virtually every day given the chance.
• Seals are disturbed up to 7 times in 1 hour by leisure/pleasure sea craft – fishing boats are examples of good practice, going about their business, paying the seals no attention.
• Disturbance is mainly caused through lack of awareness and understanding about seal behaviour.
• People often say “The seals were in water around us!” What they don’t realise is that a few minutes earlier, the seals would have been hauled out of the water.
• The worst possible thing people can do is to feed the seals. Not only is this dangerous, but seals are clever creatures who learn quickly about easy food sources.
• Constant disturbance means the seals will move to other more remote locations.
• We want people to see the seals, but without disturbing them, so we can all enjoy them!

Solutions to seal disturbance. To:-

• Raise peoples’ awareness about the seals and their behaviour through leaflets, talks, meetings with local organisations and through the local press.
• Promote the ‘Marine Code of Conduct’.
• Get support for a leisure/pleasure sea craft Voluntary Agreement at Godrevy.
• Get everyone to record & report all disturbance to the BDMLR (01825 765546) or Police (0845 777444).

Cornishman (left): West Briton (Middle): Western Morning News (right)

Many thanks to everyone who ran the story.