Grey seal boom in UK thanks to hunting ban, volunteers and fish

There are grey seals scattered along the beach as far as the eye can see. Tucked up among the adult females are tiny, white, new-born pups. Over 3,200 have already been born along a short stretch of the UK's Norfolk coastline since the breeding season started in November. 

Those numbers were expected to rise to over 4,000 by January, possibly even breaking last year's record of 4,500 births. The shallow waters, shouldered by high sand dunes, are proving to be the ideal breeding ground for this protected species.‌

Despite a solid appearance, young seal pups are vulnerable to human disturbance. What seems like a friendly 'wave' of a flipper means 'keep your distance' and a wide-eyed stare from those large, round eyes indicates extreme discomfort. 

If a mother seal is frightened, she may flee and abandon her young, leaving a pup vulnerable to starvation. 

A local charity, Friends of Horsey Seals, helps protect seal pups which have strayed too far inland, by roping off public paths running through dunes, to discourage any accidental disruption. 

"If it can survive the first six weeks of its life and end up nice and fat, it's got a good chance," says Peter Ansell, Chairman of Friends of Horsey Seals, the volunteer group helping to monitor the grey seal breeding season. 

Hunting ban helps

Teams of 'seal counters' carefully log every seal, section by section on the beach, forensically scanning the shoreline through binoculars, counting each one with a clicker. 

"We've got about a 100 new-born and about 500 pups altogether and we're only about a third of the way in this section that we're doing," says Jean, a local volunteer seal counter. Minutes later, the announcement of a new birth crackles on the team radio, adding to the tally.

Given this abundance of offspring, it's hard to imagine that a few decades ago fewer than a hundred seals were found on these very same shores. Since then a hunting ban has come into force, allowing seals to thrive. 

Grey seals are still the rarest of all the seal species and it is estimated that up to half of them live in the waters off the British Isles. Many return to the same location to breed. 

"The females come into season about three or four years old. Once they're mated they come in and a year later they give birth where they were born themselves," says Ansell. 

Experts believe plentiful fish stocks and a lack of predators is helping the ongoing grey seal boom. ‌But out on the windswept beaches, battered by strong waves and bitter northerly winds, it is a full-on fight for survival. 

Nose for trouble

Bull seals tussle for territory, defending their female conquests, leaving both sparring partners splattered with blood. Whoever wins chases his rival out to sea. 

Seal pups also have a nose for trouble – one young pup recently had to be rescued after becoming trapped in sand, at risk of drowning once the tide rose. 

Those that make it, grow up fast, tripling their body weight after three weeks of feeding. Soon they shed their white fur, turning grey at six weeks old, ready to head out to sea.

‌‌Next year there should again be thousands of pups emerging in these dunes as this wildlife success story continues. 

"As far as I can look ahead, the future should be pretty bright," adds Ansell. "They've got plenty of fish in the sea, obviously they're feeding well. They've got wonderful beaches all round Norfolk; all around England." 

The continuing presence of charity volunteers is clearly vital to that future.

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