Harbour Seals: Watching Without Disturbing Them

Seals as part of our coastal heritage

Around Britain's shores, harbour seals are as much a part of the coastal scene as fishing boats, lobster pots and weathered harbours. They have hauled out on sheltered shores for centuries, often within sight of quays and slipways, and their presence tells us something important about the health of our seas. Harbour seals, also called common seals, are smaller and rounder-faced than grey seals. They favour estuaries, sandbanks, rocky skerries and quiet coves where they can rest undisturbed. Yet our affection for them can cause harm if we crowd them. Watching without disturbing is a skill worth learning.

Why hauled-out seals need peace

When seals gather on shore, they are not simply sunbathing. They are resting, digesting food, moulting, giving birth and nursing pups. This time on land is essential. Every time a seal is startled into the water, it burns energy it needs for survival, especially in cold months or during the vulnerable moult. Pups are particularly at risk. A mother may leave her pup on the shore while she feeds, and repeated disturbance can separate them or cause the mother to abandon the site. Seals are protected by law in the UK, but the best protection comes from simple, respectful behaviour.

Reading the signs: rest, alert, disturbed

Seals give clear signals. A relaxed seal may lie flat with eyes closed, flippers tucked in, and no movement towards the water. An alert seal lifts its head, stares in your direction and shuffles slightly. A disturbed seal may rush, stampede or dive into the sea, often causing others to follow. If a seal looks at you, you are probably too close. If it moves away because of you, you have already disturbed it. Learn to read the group, not just one animal.

• Relaxed: eyes closed, body flat, no reaction to your presence.
• Alert: head raised, fixed stare, shuffling towards the water's edge.
• Disturbed: sudden rush into the sea, mothers and pups separated, panic spreading through the group.

How close is too close?

On foot, keep at least 100 metres from hauled-out seals. On a cliff or headland, stay back from the edge and use the height to your advantage. Never position yourself between a seal and the sea. If you are on a beach, walk around the top of the shore, well above the tide line, and keep to paths and dunes. If a seal raises its head, stop, back away quietly and leave by the route you came. Do not try to get a closer photograph; a zoom lens or binoculars will always give a better, less stressful view.

In boats, kayaks and paddleboards, aim to keep 100 metres away. Slow down, avoid sudden changes in speed or direction, and never drive between seals and open water. If a seal approaches you, let it choose the encounter. Do not chase, herd or encircle groups. Paddle quietly and low, and give mothers with pups a much wider berth. Around harbour walls and slipways, be aware that seals may be resting just out of sight.

Dogs, drones and everyday disturbance

Dogs are one of the biggest causes of seal disturbance on British coasts. Even a friendly dog off the lead can send a whole haul-out into the sea. Keep dogs on a short lead near seal beaches, and avoid extending leads that let them range far ahead. Drones are another serious problem. Flying a drone over seals can cause panic from above and may be an offence. Keep drones well away from haul-out sites. Noise matters too: shouting, radios, banging boat hulls and throwing stones all add stress.

• Use a short lead, not an extending lead, near seal haul-outs.
• Do not fly drones over seals or their pups.
• Keep voices low and avoid sudden movements or loud engine revs.
• Take litter home; entanglement and ingestion are serious threats.

Binoculars, scopes and patient watching

The best seal encounters happen at a distance. A pair of 8x42 binoculars or a spotting scope reveals far more than a phone camera ever will: whiskers, rolling behaviour, mothers nuzzling pups. Watch from a clifftop, a hide or behind rocks, and scan the water for dark heads bobbing offshore. Check tide tables before you go. Seals often haul out on sandbanks at low tide and on rocky islets at high tide. Early morning and evening are usually quieter. Keep your visit brief if seals become alert, and never corner an animal.

Seasons, pups and shared shores

Harbour seals in the UK usually give birth in June and July, though in northern Scotland it can be later. Grey seals pup in autumn and winter. Moulting takes place in late summer, when seals spend longer on land. During these seasons, give haul-outs extra space. If you find a pup alone, do not touch it, do not pour water on it and do not chase it into the sea. The mother is likely nearby. Call a local wildlife rescue or the coastguard if you believe an animal is injured or in danger. By keeping your distance, controlling your dog and using binoculars, you help ensure that harbour seals remain part of our coastal heritage for generations to come.