Solution.
Help Protect One of the World’s Rarest Seals – Right Here on Our Shores
Becoming a Seal Protector starts with understanding how easily human presence can disturb seals—often without us even realising it.
Whether from land or sea, getting too close to a seal—especially during the breeding season or when one is resting (hauled out) on shore or rocks—can have serious consequences.
During breeding season, disturbance can:
Separate mothers from their pups
Interrupt essential feeding (pups need to gain survival weight quickly)
Cause pups to flee, become lost, or be abandoned
Lead mothers to permanently desert their young out of fear
These outcomes dramatically reduce a pup’s chances of survival.
At any time of year, seals need to haul out to rest, digest food, conserve energy, and feel safe. When disturbed, they often panic and flee into the sea. This response uses up valuable energy, disrupts their natural rhythms, and, in pups, can cause exhaustion or injury. Even seeing a seal swim away from a rock or cave can mean it was disturbed and felt unsafe.
Disturbance, even unintentional, can damage a seal’s health, compromise their habitat, and threaten their long-term survival.
What It Means to Be a Seal Protector
Being a Seal Protector means making choices that help seals live safely and thrive in the wild. If you’ve done any of the following—or plan to—you’re already playing a part in protecting these incredible animals:
🛟 Stand up for seal habitats
Support campaigns to have important seal areas recognised and protected as official ‘Seal Spaces’—places free from human disturbance, where seals can rest, breed, and raise their pups in peace.
🚫 Keep your distance
Whether you’re on land or at sea, never approach seals or enter caves, coves, or beaches where seals may be resting or raising pups. Even quiet presence can cause distress and lead to dangerous disturbance.
👀 Watch respectfully
Learn how to observe seals without causing stress or altering their natural behaviour. Being a mindful wildlife watcher helps protect seals—and it makes for a more rewarding experience, too.
📱 Protect with your posts
Avoid sharing specific seal locations online. Even well-meaning posts can lead to increased foot traffic and accidental disturbance.
If you want to learn more or become more involved, drop us a line through our contact page.