Concern for seal pups after boat disturbance at Cumbria reserve

The count at South Walney in 2021 showed a record number of seals

A wildlife charity has criticised boats for disturbing breeding seals at a Cumbrian nature reserve, following the death of two seal pups.

Workers at South Walney say their excitement at the start of pupping season "has turned to sadness and frustration" over the incident.

They are concerned about the long-term future of the colony, where grey seals have been breeding for nine years.

Kayakers, anglers and small boats have been told to stay 100m from the colony.

The first pup of 2023 captured on the seal webcam

A newborn grey seal pup was spotted at South Walney Nature Reserve, near Barrow, on Cumbria Wildlife Trust's seal-cam on Tuesday.

Beth Churn, marine conservation officer for the wildlife trust, said: "October is usually an exciting time of year for us, as we await the first sightings of seal pups.

"But this year, our excitement has turned to sadness, anger and frustration, following two separate incidents of seal pup deaths, which we believe are the direct result of human disturbance."

Two weeks ago, the trust found two adult seals, a seal pup and a dead porpoise washed up at the nature reserve.

One of the adult seals and the porpoise had injuries which indicated they had been hit by a boat.

It is thought the cause of the seal pup and the other adult seal's death could also be linked to the same incident.

'Too close'

A second pup was believed to have been abandoned by its mother who was spotted on the Trust's seal-cam being "scared off" by boats coming too close to shore.

When mothers with pups are disturbed or alarmed, they return to the water, leaving their newborn pups behind - a reaction known as "flushing".

Ms Churn said that over the weekend a seal-watching boat trip, and several small boats, were spotted "far too close" to the colony.

Paul Waterhouse, reserves officer at the charity, said: "These terrible incidents have happened despite repeated appeals to small boat-users and local ferry companies to keep their distance from the seal colony, especially during pupping season."

He highlighted guidelines issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) which state boats - and all other visitors - must keep at least 100m (328ft) away from seal colonies.

The incidents at South Walney have been reported to Defra.

Mr Waterhouse said he feared "continued disturbance" could drive the seals elsewhere.

Last year three incidents involving dogs off leads who were frightening seals were reported by the trust.

The South Walney Reserve is the only grey seal breeding colony in Cumbria

A spokesperson for the charity said it had worked hard since the 1980s to make the South Walney site safe and secure, with no public access to the beach where the seals "haul out" of the water.

In recent years, the colony has grown, and in 2021 the charity counted a record 518 seals in the colony.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust advises visitors to the area that they can watch the seals swimming at high tide from a safe distance in Groyne Hide, or tune into their seal-cam online.