The status of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) at Lundy, 2008-2009
Introducing the seals at Lundy in the UK context
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Introducing the seals at Lundy in the UK contextThe seals that occur at Lundy are grey seals. During this survey, no harbour (common) seals were observed, although it is highly probable that they do occur occasionally, as at other sites along SW Britain coasts. The nearest ‘neighbouring’ localities where relatively large numbers of grey seals assemble during at least part of the year are: The Boscastle-Cambeak coast in North Cornwall, approximately 30 miles away. Skomer and Skokholm, off the southwest Wales coast, less than 50 miles away. Ramsey, off the southwest Wales coast, approximately 60 miles away. From the ‘viewpoint’ of the seals, geographically Lundy appears to be a hinge point – a junction – between the seals of SW England and those of SW Wales. At Lundy, grey seals are close to the southern limit of their breeding range in the NE Atlantic. Nearly all that was known of the seals at Lundy prior to this study is recorded in the Lundy Field Society Annual Reports, although some relevant information is recorded in Nature in Wales (produced sometimes bi-annually, sometimes annually, over the period of its existence). Other anecdotes occur in books written about Lundy. The context in which grey seals find themselves at Lundy at the outset of the twenty-first century is as follows: They continue to use sites that they have used throughout living memory - in some cases, for centuries. Only rarely do they colonise ‘new’ sites. Why new sites are colonised is not known, but may be as a result of cliff falls obliterating sites previously used or due to persecution by humans, as at Portreath in the last Cornwall seals cull (between 1934-1951). Most of the sites currently used are on stretches of the north, west and south coasts that remain remote and can easily be rendered inaccessible by adverse sea conditions. The coastal zone of Lundy is extremely attractive to people and is heavily used for leisure activities, especially diving, kayaking, sea angling and climbing. Since 2000, there has been an increase in the use of jet boats and high performance rigid-hulled inflatable boats licensed to run high speed, optionally long distance, marine eco-tourism operations both along the coast and out to sea throughout the entire year. Their objective is to try to provide their passengers with sightings of and relatively close approach to the charismatic marine animals of local seas. At present, these include: Minke, fin and humpback whales. Bottlenose, common and Risso’s dolphins. Harbour porpoises. Pilot whales and orcas. Leatherback turtles. Sharks, especially basking sharks. Grey and harbour seals. Ocean sunfish. Of these, sightings of only one species can be (virtually) guaranteed at a given time and place. It is well known among eco-tourism operators that grey seals are conservative in site use, with the period around low tide being the time when they are most likely to be found ashore. Therefore, among marine animals, grey seals are uniquely vulnerable to daily disturbance at haul-out sites during periods when sea conditions are relatively quiet. For several decades, traditional ‘tripper’ boats (varying greatly in size) have carried passengers to Lundy from North Devon harbours between Ilfracombe and Clovelly. These operations continue, with ‘seeing the seals’ featuring prominently in the advertisements. Since c.2000, commercial operators have been offering ‘swim-with-seals’ operations to the public in SW England. These may take place at any phase of the tide. It can be argued that seals will approach swimmers only if they elect to. However, such operations have been observed to drive hauled out seals into the sea at the outset of the encounter. All of the commercial operations described above inevitably spawn ‘copycat’ imitators from among the general public. Potentially, this multiplies the impacts on the sites used by the seals, influencing their behaviour. Lastly, in the context of an increasing awareness and knowledge of local seals and the sites they use, and the various ways in which they are exploited (see above), it seems both likely and desirable that there will be an increase in the activities of individuals and groups of people observing and recording seals at local sites. It is likely that their principal concerns will be to see seals sustained at ‘favourable conservation status’ while being subjected to least possible disturbance and other forms of harm. There will stem from this a continuing interest in seals by the various media as well as by students and artists. Taken together, these several factors combine to describe a picture of intense and increasing pressures on seals and the sites they use. That is, pressures upon a species of seal, described as ‘uncommon’ in world terms, for which the U.K. has accepted particular responsibilities under international agreements. However, the range and scale of pressures that are being exerted on those seals occurring along southwest England coasts also amount to an exciting opportunity to develop and apply novel management measures that should yield benefits to the seals, the sites they use as well as to the people who have an interest in them. That is particularly true for Lundy. Such measures work best where they are fair, proportionate and least intrusive. Therefore, in designing these management plans, where – in effect – people are requested not to do something, the intention will be to seek out a quid pro quo that compensates for any freedom that is surrendered. In the current and foreseeable financial climate, little funding is likely to be available to support the long-term studies of seal sites, identity and movements that will be necessary to inform and refine management of current and potential sites and issues. For that reason, it is anticipated that the warden, assisted by licensed and trained volunteers, will implement the action plans. Download 1.63 Mb. Share with your friends:
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