Enjoy Cornwall’s Coastline Responsibly: Tips for Protecting Marine Wildlife

Protecting Marine Wildlife: Essential Tips for Summer Activities

As summer heats up and the allure of Cornwall’s stunning coastline grows stronger, it’s crucial for beachgoers and water enthusiasts to remember that they are sharing the ocean with an array of marine life. The Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust has issued an important reminder to put marine wildlife first during your seaside adventures.

Avoid Close Encounters with Seals

One of the key messages from the Trust is to never deliberately seek encounters with seals. These creatures, often found in the waters around Cornwall, need their space to rest and digest their food. The sea is their home and often their last refuge from human disturbances.

Maintain a Safe Distance

If you happen to be in the sea, it’s vital to keep a distance of over 200 metres from any hauled-out, resting, or digesting seals on land. While seals are generally gentle and prefer to flee rather than fight, they will defend themselves if they feel threatened or cornered.

Respect Seal Behaviour

Understanding seal behaviour is essential for ensuring both your safety and the well-being of the seals. Seals sleep on the seabed or by floating at the surface, a behaviour known as ‘bottling’ or ‘logging’. Although curious juvenile seals might approach swimmers, most seals will leave their favoured spots to avoid human interaction, which wastes their vital energy.

Tips for Responsible Wildlife Viewing

If you encounter a seal while swimming, stay calm and quiet. Keep your limbs close to your body, avoid touching the seal, and move slowly away. This minimises disturbance and reduces the risk of alarming the animal.

Share the Message

The Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust is urging everyone to share this message. By spreading awareness, we can all contribute to a safer environment for the seals and other marine wildlife that call our coastline home.

Remember, if in doubt, get out of the water to ensure both your safety and the safety of the marine creatures.

This summer, let’s be good neighbours to the marine wildlife and enjoy our beautiful coastline responsibly.