Seal-spotting responsibly in West Wales

A grey seal lies on a seaweed-covered rock off Lundy island, Devon — Grey seal | © National Trust Images/Nick Upton

Around the coast of West Wales, you can spot grey seals throughout the year. They spend a lot of time at sea but come ashore to breed from August to November, when parents and their pups can be spotted on beaches around Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. Seals are protected by law, and we are lucky to share our coast with them. It’s important to do all we can to keep seals and their pups safe in their natural habitat. Please follow these guidelines to avoid disturbing them.

How to watch seals well

If you spot a seal or a pup, please take care not to disturb them by following these guidelines:

From the shore

Keep your distance: Stay at least 50 metres away from seals, which is about half the length of a football field.
Seals are best viewed from the coast path – use a pair of binoculars or camera zoom for a better view. Please take care on the cliffs and keep a low profile.
Stay still and quiet, watching for signs that may show you’re disturbing the seals. Whisper if you need to talk.
Please stay off beaches where seal pups are present.
Take all your litter home.

Visiting with a dog?

Dogs will cause stress to seals, so they are best left at home.
If you do bring them, please keep your dog on a short lead, and keep a safe distance of at least 50 metres from seals.

From the sea

Avoid landing on pupping beaches or beaches where seals are.
Adult females often rest in the sea close to the shore where their pup is, avoid coming between them.
Keep boat speed low and quiet and ensure only one boat at a time viewing seals. Move away if you notice signs of disturbance.
Keep at least 50 metres away, unless they approach your boat.
Always allow seals an escape route and avoid boxing them in.
For your safety and the health of the seals, do not swim with, touch or feed seals.

Signs of disturbance

Disturbance interrupts rest, causes stress and wastes energy which can result in injury and puts the lives of seals and their pups at risk.
Watch out for these body language cues:

Heads up - Seals will raise their heads and watch your location and approach when they feel threatened.
Movement - When seals are worried, they will sit up, shifting from lying on their sides to their stomachs.
Retreat - The seals quickly retreat into the water to escape.

Concerned about a seal?

If a pup is alone on a beach, it usually means that its mother is nearby in the water. Make sure you keep well away so she can return to her pup when she needs to. Pups may also cry, which may sound distressing even if the seal pup is fine.
If you do spot a seal in distress, call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 or in Pembrokeshire, call the Welsh Marine Life Rescue on 07970 285086. Do not approach the seal.

These guidelines were created in close association with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and follow The Pembrokeshire Marine Code of Conduct for Seals.

Group of grey seals on the Farne Islands, Northumberland — Grey seals | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Where to spot seals

About half of the world’s population of grey seals breed on our UK coastline and a few thousand of those are present all year around in West Wales.

Some of the best places to catch a glimpse of grey seals along the cliff tops include Martins Haven, St Davids Peninsula, Abereiddi to Abermawr, Strumble head along the coast path to Cardigan and further up towards Mwnt and New Quay.

Grey seal facts

Scientific name: Halichoerus grypus means ‘hook-nosed sea pig’
Brief history: Seals are thought to have evolved from otter-like ancestors on the shores of the North Atlantic around 15 million years ago
Size: Adults can reach up to 2.5m in length and weigh up to 250kg. Bulls (males) have longer noses, are larger and darker than cows (females)
Threats to seals: Being disturbed, becoming entangled in fishing gear and being persecuted. Around 40 per cent of the world’s grey seals breed in the UK.