Rising seal numbers in Thames estuary hide triple threat to populations

Scientists conducting annual count of grey and common seals warn of potential impact of dredging, a deadly virus and predation between species

Adam Vaughan

Wednesday 10 August 2016 09.00 BSTLast modified on Wednesday 10 August 201609.03 BST

Scores of seals loll on the riverbank of the Stour, snorting and bellyflopping as they sun themselves a couple of miles outside Ramsgate’s busy marina.

Far from exceptional, these are just a smattering of the hundreds of seals that the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) hopes to count this week in the Greater Thames estuary. The mammals are sighted as far up as Teddington Lock, and Canary Wharf is a hotspot for seeing them.

A total of 905 common and grey seals were found along the estuary last year, up from 708 during the first survey in 2013, counted from plane, boat and on foot. ZSL’s spotters take advantage of the seals’ moulting season in August, when they shuffle up sandbanks to shed their coat and grow a new one, making double-counting less likely.

But while experts have celebrated the rise of the seals along the Thames, there are fears this year of a triple threat to these marine predators.

Several miles south-east off the coast from Ramsgate is Goodwin Sands, a sort of “spaghetti junction” for seals to haul out after travelling from Europe. It is here that the port of Dover hopes to dredge for sand to expand its operations, a move opposed by many local people and environmentalists.

Joanna Barker, ZSL’s conservation scientist, said she was concerned at the potential impact, after 75% of last year’s grey seals were counted there. “I think, and many other scientists think, it could be quite an important meeting point for seals coming from mainland Europe because it’s one of most eastern sandbanks of its type.

“We are a bit worried about the impact on seals. We would like to see the dredging – if it does take place – it doesn’t take place in important times in seal biology. We wouldn’t want to see dredging in the pupping [breeding] times.”

Continued 

Nearly 900 seals shot legally in Scotland in 2 years

Seal deterrent device priced out of market

March 2013. Campaigners condemn 900 seal shootings in Scotland, The Seal Protection Action Group (SPAG), have condemned the Scottish Government for publishing details about the shooting of hundreds of seals in Scotland on an obscure website, so avoiding public scrutiny and further public outrage at the killings.

The Marine Scotland website says that 61 licences were granted in 2012 to shoot a maximum of 878 grey and 289 common seals, (1,167 in total), by salmon aquaculture, wild salmon netting companies and sports fishing interests - but only as a ‘last resort.'

423 seals shot legally in 2012
The final quarter figures (Sept -Dec 2012) posted just this week reveal that 349 grey and 74 common seals were shot last year, 423 seals in total. This number represents only 38 animals less than the 461 shot in 2011, the inaugural year of the Government's Seal Licence Scheme. That means a total of 884 seals have been shot in just two years under the seal licence scheme.

884 seals shot in 2 years
Andy Ottaway of the SPAG said, ‘Under the Government's new scheme a staggering 884 seals or more, have been shot in just two years, allegedly as a ‘last resort' measure. That's an awful lot of last resorts, and it strongly suggests nothing much is being done to curb seal shooting which is becoming institutionalised under a government scheme we hoped would help end it'.

Seal deterrent device
The news follows revelations this week that a new seal deterrent device, developed by the Seal Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) at St Andrews University with a grant from the Scottish government, is now in the hands of a private finance company called Banker's Capital, based in New York. The device, which has proven very promising in laboratory and field trials at deterring seals without harming them or other wildlife, is now being offered to Scottish aquaculture companies for further trial, but at huge prices. SPAG knew about and backed this device some two years ago, but it is yet to be made readily available to the salmon industry.

Continued:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/scotland-seals-shot.html

Peak time for spotting common seals in rivers

Published on Wednesday 8 February 2012 11:00

DON’T be surprised if you see common seals gliding up the Ouse or the Cuckmere at this time of year.

Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) said they believe the animals sometimes pursue fish up these tidal rivers and explained this behaviour is at its peak in February and March.

Members of the public need only be concerned if they can tell a seal is injured, looks very thin or if there is a pup on its own in distress.

In fact seals can live happily in tidal rivers for a week at a time before heading back to sea.

You might even be lucky enough to see them on a riverbank lifting their head and tail off the ground in a banana shape which is thought to help regulate their temperature on land and aid digestion.

Common seals have a short muzzle with v-shaped nostrils and are quite dog-like in profile.

They are one of two types of seal which breed in UK waters. The other is the grey seal.

A colony of common seals makes its home in Chichester Harbour - the animals are also known as harbour seals because they like this habitat.

To tell SWT about the wildlife you see visit the wildlife advice pages at 

www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk or if you have a wildlife query ring SWT’s hotline on 01273 494777.

http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/local/peak_time_for_spotting_common_seals_in_rivers_1_3484219