Seal Disturbance
Giving Seals the Space They Deserve.
We want to help grey seals thrive in the wild, free from as many human pressures as possible. One of the biggest threats to their survival is also one of the easiest to prevent: human disturbance.
How Seals Are Disturbed – Often Without Us Realising
Seals are incredibly alert. Here’s how you might be disturbing them, even without meaning to:
When they see you
Seals have excellent vision—they can easily spot a human silhouetted on a cliff above them
Sudden movements like pointing, waving, or holding phones or cameras aloft will spook them
Standing tall or moving toward them is often perceived as a threat
When you approach from the sea
Seals can see well in water too—kayaks, SUPs, and boats that come too close will cause fear
Watercraft that drift silently or hover near seal haul-out spots can startle even sleeping seals
When they hear you
Seals have highly sensitive hearing
Talking, shouting, boat engines, barking dogs, drones, or even clapping can trigger panic
Once spooked, seals may stampede into the sea, risking injury or separation from pups.
⚠️ Signs You’re Too Close
Seals may appear calm, but subtle reactions show distress:
A seal lifts its head and watches you – it’s on alert
Seals move into the water as you approach – this is a clear sign of disturbance
A group of seals rush off rocks or a beach – this is a stampede, which can cause injuries, separate pups from mothers, and lead to long-term site abandonment
The Consequences:
To survive, seals must be able to:
Come ashore (haul out) to rest, digest, nurse pups, or moult
Breed and raise pups in peace and safety
Conserve energy, especially in times of stress or poor weather
Whether they are resting, feeding, or caring for pups, disturbance causes stress, burns energy, and can lead to pup abandonment, injury, or death.
Breeding and haul-out Sites
Unfortunately in certain key breeding and haul-out sites, disturbance has already had serious consequences:
Fewer pups are surviving to weaning age.
Mothers are abandoning sites they used for generations.
Adult seals are fleeing resting areas, using up energy reserves they need for survival.
By respecting these sites—and helping others understand their importance—you’re actively contributing to seal conservation.
Injury from Watercraft
The issue os not just land-based, seals in the sea are especially vulnerable to:
Propeller and engine injuries
Vessel strikes, especially to young pups or pregnant cows
Chronic stress from repeated disturbance, leading to lower breeding success
- Whether you’re paddling a kayak, cruising in a boat, or gliding on a paddleboard — you’re sharing the sea with wildlife. Seals depend on these coastal and marine spaces to rest, breed, and survive. Even well-meaning approaches can cause stress, injuries, or separation from pups.
Seals may not immediately show signs of injury — but internal damage and infection from collisions are common causes of death in pups and adults.
What You Can Do Right Now?
- 150 Metre Rule
Always stay at least 150 metres away from any seal on land or rock. Always use binoculars or long lenses to observe.
- Low, Still, Quiet.
If there is a seal close by, stay clam, stay low, stay quiet.
- Dogs
Keeps dogs or any other pets on leads and away from the seal. Barking is one of many examples of seal disturbance.
- Avoid Seal Beaches
If there is a particular beach known for its breeding or seal spotting, stay away and advice others to do the same. Never share seal locations online.
REMEMBER: If a seal looks up at you, you’re too close. Back away quietly and avoid being seen or heard.
If You’re in a Watercraft:
The advice above is the exact same whether you are on the land or water. However there are a few more examples of what you can do to prevent disturbance when in a watercraft:
If a seal is already in the water and watching you, stay still — let the seal approach you if it chooses. Staring up an engine or paddleing away quickly could have the opposite cause stress. Stay still, quiet and clam.
Reduce your speed when passing any rocky outcrop, shore, or breeding cove.
- Kill your engine or switch to neutral if it safe to do so. Many seal pups are extremely curious and may not know the dangers of the propellers.
Don’t:
Do not follow seals or move closer.
Never land on beaches, rocks, or coves where seals are hauled out — at any time of year
Avoid breeding sites entirely and anywhere pups are present
Don’t speed near seal haul-outs — engine noise and wake can drive seals into the sea in panic, risking injury or abandonment
Never chase, encircle or cut off a seals path.
If You’re a Boat Passenger
If you’re on a tour or private vessel and see that your boat is getting too close to hauled-out seals, or a seal flees into the water as you approach:
Speak up politely: ask the skipper to give the seals more space
Share your knowledge — most operators want to do the right thing
Final Thought
The sea is their home. You’re a guest.
Watching a relaxed seal in its natural space is far more rewarding than a glimpse of one fleeing in fear. Let’s keep the coast wild — and give seals the freedom they need to thrive.
One quiet moment from you can mean one extraordinary moment of survival for a seal or pup.
Let’s protect them—together.
Best practice:
'Stay Low, Stay Still and Stay Quiet.'
How do you know when you are disturbing a seal?
🔍 How to Recognise Seal Disturbance
Seals often give subtle warning signs before they flee. Understanding these behaviours helps you spot when you’re too close — and change your actions before causing harm.
These are the key signs of disturbance researchers observe repeatedly:
🚩 Early Warning Signs
🦭 The seal abruptly raises its head
– It has noticed you. This is its first alert response.
👀 The seal is watching you
– Seals will look around or directly at you to identify a potential threat.
🌊 A seal needs to come ashore but doesn’t
– If your presence (even from a kayak or beach) prevents a seal from landing, this is a disturbance.
⚠️ Disturbance During Feeding & Maternal Care
🐾 A mother seal (cow) is anxious or scanning the area
– She may:
Be prevented from returning to shore to suckle her pup
Cut a feed short
Try to nurse her pup while staying in or near the water, rather than safely on land
🥶 She leads her pup into the sea to escape
– This may happen even if the pup is too young or underweight. It’s a serious stress response with real consequences.
🚨 Severe Disturbance & Stampedes
🏃♂️ Seals move quickly toward the water
– If one moves suddenly, others may follow. This is a clear sign of panic.
💥 Group movement = stampede
– Seals rushing off rocks or over land to escape can result in:
Injury from slipping, falling, or colliding
Energy loss at crucial times (e.g. pregnancy, moulting)
Abandoned pups
👶 Weaned pups, pregnant cows, and nursing mothers are especially at risk
– Once disturbed, they may abandon sites completely, reducing breeding success for years to come.
🧠 Why This Matters
These reactions might seem minor or even “natural” to the untrained eye. But they are clear, consistent signs of stress and disruption that threaten individual seals and entire breeding colonies.
✅ What You Can Do
Back away slowly if a seal looks at you
Stay quiet and low
Keep at least 150 metres distance
Never enter or approach known haul-out or breeding areas
Share this knowledge to help others protect seals
Noise from a light aircraft triggers a stampede. The same happens when people are talking loudly at the cliff top or are visible – standing upright – looming, or making sudden movements – e.g. pointing; or if a sea-craft Kayak, canoe, SUP or boat, etc., approaches from the sea.
Key facts to remember:
- If a seal looks at you, you are too close.
- Pups are born on land and cannot feed in the sea.
- The disturbance is often unseen with seals suffering long-term stress if repeatedly disturbed.