The UK is home to some of the world’s most important seal populations. Around our coastline live two native species: the grey seal and the harbour (common) seal. They rest on our beaches, raise their pups on our shores and are an important part of our marine ecosystem.
Neither species is protected from intentional or reckless disturbance under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The primary legislation used to protect wildlife in the UK.
Today, 25 May 2026, the UK Seal Alliance launches the Give Seals Space Campaign, calling on the Government to reconsider previous recommendations and provide grey and harbour seals with the legal protection they deserve.
The UK supports up to 38% of the world’s Atlantic grey seals and an internationally important population of harbour seals. Seals are highly sensitive to disturbance, such as members of the public approaching too closely, surrounding animals for photographs, flying drones overhead, or repeatedly disturbing haul-out sites. All these can have long lasting consequences to the individual’s health.
Disturbance isn’t just seals fleeing back in to the sea before they are ready. It includes pup abandonment, wasted energy from staying alert or having to move, injuries from panic escapes and even lifting their head to look at you when too close.
Not all impacts are immediately visible – when seals percieve a threat, stress hormones are released. Repeated disturbance can lead to chronic stress, which has been linked to reduced immune function, delayed healing, impaired growth and increased vulnerability to disease. For seals already coping with an injury, illness or entanglement, these effects can be particularly significant.
As part of the UK’s Seventh Quinquennial Review, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) recommended that grey and harbour seals should be added to Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act to protect them from intentional or reckless disturbance.
That recommendation was later strongly supported by the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.
Disappointingly, in December 2025 the Government rejected that seals be added to the Wildlife and Countryside Act, a change that would
ultimately afford them protection from intentional or reckless disturbance.
Grey and harbour seals cannot ask for protection, but we can.
The evidence is clear. The UK’s own conservation experts recommended legal protection for seals from intentional or reckless disturbance, yet those recommendations were not adopted.
The Give Seals Space 2026 campaign launched by The Seal Alliance aims to change that.
Every signature strengthens the call for legal protection and demonstrates that seal welfare matters to the public. The more people who support the campaign, the harder it becomes for decision-makers to ignore.
Please share with your friends, family and networks. Together, we can turn expert recommendations into real protection for seals.
