Sammy entangled in angling hooks.. again...

On Sunday 28th May 2023 we we called about an entangled seal. Already being aware of one seal in the area with angling line entanglements, we expected it to be the same seal. However on arrival, we encountered 'Sammy' a well known adult female seal who has angling hooks around her body. One being directly above her right eye, others trailing down her body, one part trailing a fish head still caught on a hook further down the line.

These will come out by themselves and there is nothing we can do as either BDMLR Marine Mammal Medics or as The Seal Project to help her, As an adult seal these just have to come out by themselves. We see hooked seals far too frequently, and this particular seal is often entangled during the summer months.

Those we spoke with that evening were very respectful, and in awe of these amazing creatures, but not everyone appreciates that these creatures deserve our respect and that refraining from angling around them, and refraining from feeding them is key to preventing issues like this.

If seals approach whilst you're angling. Bring the line in. Relax and enjoy the scenery, have a cuppa and allow the seal to move on. If you feed the seal it will remain in the area.

Please check out the new Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Marine & Coastal Wildlife Code released earlier this week.

#bdmlr #SealSurvey #southdevon #greyseal #defra #sealalliance #csgrt #marineandcoastalwildifecode #brixhamharbour #brixham #lovewhereyoulive #lovewhatyoudo #education #devon #coastalwildlife #torbayharbours #brixhammarina #sammytheseal #easterbunnytheseal #brolleytheseal

No more soggy surveys!

We have ourselves a new canopy to our Survey Boat.

Many thanks to @Ocean Covers & Upholstery who have created the perfect cover for the back of the survey boat. No more soggy surveys, no more freezing cold boat trips, getting soaked and having to huddle up and keep cameras dry!

We now have a bright airy canopy with big windows, which we can remove as and when weather and sea conditions allow!

You've no idea how excited and happy about this we are. Surveying is fantastic - but once you're cold and wet it really doesn't seem so much fun, and camera kit really doesn't work so well if its wet or damp.

Many thanks to Dav & Jess who worked really had to make this work for us, and went above and beyond to ensure they managed to get this done when things didn't go quite to plan on our part, and also for their kind sponsorship towards the cost of the cover. Everything we do relies on donations so this was very much appreciated.

Please check them out on Facebook and Instagram, they are now Brixham based.

Now for some cleaning and maintenance and we are good to go survey!

#sealsurvey #equinoxIIthesurveyboat #mdlbrixham #brixhammarina #oceancovers #sealidentification #southdevon

It's that Grey Seal pupping time of year

It's been a busy but so far successful season for the few seal pups we are fortunate to have had born around our coastline.

We may have a number of adult and juvenile seals around our shores but pupping isn't something we encounter too often so every pup we do know about we monitor well.

Obviously we don't give out numbers or locations, but one seal pup in particular was born on an accessible beach, easily approached by humans and dogs. Because of this with the help of locals and holiday makers alike, the MMO (Marine Management Organisation) the landowners landlords and the local beach coffee van, along with BDMLR Medics and The Seal Project team, we kept one pup as safe as we could - with regular updates from those kind enough to watch over 'Melon' as the pup was named, and by ourselves.

Mum did give us a few tense hours, and on one overly summery September day the pup was getting quite distressed on the open, warm sunny beach - so we thought intervention might be necessary - but thankfully this wasn't needed and mum came back to feed the pup who was clearly stressed and getting dehydrated.

A matter of days later mum did abandon the pup, but the last time we saw 'Melon' - who was still a white coat - she was a nice plump pup who appeared to be coping well with life.

Here's hoping she has thrived and survived. Certainly the pups we know of, apart from some disturbance issues, were all born in kind weather conditions, with no rough seas or heavy storms to contend with.

That's not to say they are out of the woods yet, but they have had a decent start to life and here's to long and happy lives for them all.