SPACE
Try for 100 metres
The code asks you to stay at least 100 metres away if you can, and not to approach animals head-on or from directly behind.
See the numbersWHAT THE CODES SAY
Give them a
hundred metres.
The best views are the ones they never notice.
100 M if you can
≈ 95% Share of Europe's grey seals on the British coast
- Keep 100 metres away
- Watch for heads up
- Leave lone pups alone
- Good views, no disturbance
Seals haul out to rest, digest, moult and feed their pups, and dolphins pass close to shore in summer. England's Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code asks visitors to keep their distance and read the signs.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Stay back,
stay quiet.
Disturbance often looks harmless to us.
For a resting seal it costs energy it needs.
SIGNS
Heads up means back off
Seals that wake up and look at you have noticed you. Next comes shuffling, then a stampede into the water.
Read the signs
WATCH
Bring the view closer
Use binoculars or a camera zoom rather than walking closer, and avoid flash photography.
Four habitsA QUICK BEHAVIOUR CHECK
What is the
animal telling you?
Pick a behaviour to see what the guidance says it means and what to do. The bar shows how disturbed the animal is likely to be.
Based on England's Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code and Scottish Government guidance on seal haul-outs.
FOUR HABITS AT THE COAST
Good views,
no stampedes.
These come from England's Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code and Scottish guidance. They apply on foot, on a paddleboard or in a boat.
Leave lone pups alone
Do not move a seal pup or chase it into the sea. Its mother may only be away feeding.
Never block the way to the sea
Do not crowd or encircle seals, or stand between them and their escape route to the water.
Slow down on the water
In a boat or jet ski, stay under 6 knots and 100 metres from wildlife, and keep your distance if more than 2 craft are already nearby.
Report animals in trouble
If an animal is injured or stranded, do not touch it. Call British Divers Marine Life Rescue on 01825 765546.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
A coast that
matters to Europe.
One figure on how special our seals are,
one on how many live off Scotland alone.
≈ 95%
Share of Europe's grey seals on the British coast
Defra says the British coastline is home to around 95% of Europe's grey seal population and around 25% of Europe's breeding seabirds.
GREY SEALS · DEFRA
≈ 121,000
Grey seals around Scotland
The Scottish Government's Marine Directorate puts Scotland's population at approximately 121,000 grey seals and 27,000 harbour seals.
SCOTLAND · SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT
In Scotland it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly harass a seal at a designated haul-out site under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.
WHEN TO TAKE EXTRA CARE
Seasons when
space matters most.
England's code gives June to January as the breeding season for seals and the summer months for dolphins, whales and porpoises. Seals also moult between November and April, and in August, when they spend more time on land.
In Scotland, harbour seals usually pup in June and July and moult ashore in August, while grey seals pup between September and December and stay on land for several weeks. Disturbed animals may abandon their young.
Questions
Questions people ask
How close can I get to a seal?
England's Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code asks you to stay at least 100 metres (330 feet) away if you can, and to move further away if the animal shows signs of disturbance.
I found a seal pup alone on the beach. Should I help it?
Do not move it or chase it into the sea. Guidance says it is normal for young animals to be alone while their parents rest or feed. If it looks injured or distressed, report it rather than approaching.
Can I fly a drone over seals?
The code says not to use a drone where you will disturb or endanger wildlife, and points to the Civil Aviation Authority's drone code.
What if a seal or dolphin swims up to me?
Stay calm and move away slowly. The code warns that wild animals can harm you unintentionally, so do not touch them. Scottish guidance adds that seals can move fast and bite.
How do I choose a wildlife boat trip?
The code suggests a responsible tour company, such as one accredited by the WiSe scheme, the UK national training scheme for minimising disturbance to marine wildlife.
Where the facts come from
Updated
- Defra (GOV.UK): Marine and coastal wildlife code, advice for visitors
- Defra in the media: Coverage on the marine and coastal wildlife code (May 2023)
- Scottish Government Marine Directorate: Responsible wildlife watching around seals
- Kent Wildlife Trust: The first national Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code launched by Defra