Seals at the Bay: safe encounters

Along the Cornish coast, encounters with marine wildlife can feel both special and deeply personal. But how do we protect marine life during these privileged sightings?

As part of our conservation work, two marine mammal medics, Lizzi Larbalestier and our very own Julie Hull, share expert insights into Cornwall’s grey seals, and small actions that can help keep them safe.

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Give them space
Keep it quiet
If in doubt, call BDMLR on 01825 765546

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On land

Never approach a seal, or pup.
Keep your distance – around 100m if possible – and encourage others to do the same. If they’re looking at you, you’re too close. If you'd like to take photos, use a zoom lens.

Keep voices low.

If you have a dog, keep it on a lead. This is for both the seal and your dogs safety – seals have a hard bite, and carry diseases that can spread to humans.

And avoid sharing exact locations on socials as more visitors can mean more disturbance.

Pups often come ashore to rest while their mums feed, particularly during winter storms. Intervening will often do more harm than good.

In the water

Seals are curious. They may come over to take a look. If they do, move slowly away.

Keeping your distance helps them stay wild, and reduces risks from boats, nets and other human interactions.

Why it matters

Seals spend a lot of time resting both in the water and on land. It’s essential for digestion, recovery and survival.

If disturbed on land, they can panic and injure themselves. Or return to the ocean without enough energy to survive it.

For pups, the impact is even greater. Human disturbance is the number one reason un-weaned pups become separated from their mums, often leading to malnourishment.

When to call for help

You come across an injured seal or pup that you think needs help.

You see a lone young pup (fluffy white coat), with no mum in sight.

Something just doesn't seem right.

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Give them space.
Keep it quiet.
Call BDMLR on 01825 765546.

Waiting for a medic to attend is a huge help, but if you have to leave, calling the BDMLR hotline with a what 3 words location and a photo (taken from a distance) gives the seal or pup a fighting chance of getting help.

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Small changes, big impact

A few everyday choices can also make a big difference:

• Avoid flying ring frisbees near the coast as they can become caught around seals’ necks.

• Take a moment for a mini beach clean, and particularly focus on nets. The fine monofilament net is one of the most common nets seals get entangled in. Even the shortest length poses a real threat.

• Think about the wider impact of what you buy on climate change – stormier winters during pup season are already affecting survival.

A moment that changed things

For Julie Hull, part of the Watergate Bay team, spreading this advice is deeply personal.

"I’ve always been an animal-lover and coming to work at the Bay naturally extended this to marine life. But a sad incident at the Bay was the catalyst for my marine medic training."

A few winters ago, a beach-goer at the Bay returned a seal pup to the water. No doubt trying to help but, unfortunately, doing the opposite. When the marine mammal medics arrived they explained that, if you see a pup on the beach during winter months – pup season – they’re most likely exhausted and in need of rest. Sadly, that was the case for this pup and it didn’t survive. That moment was the catalyst for Julie to train as a marine mammal medic.

I wanted to learn more, know what to do if that happened again, and bring that knowledge back to the hotel.

Creating ripples

Julie used one of Watergate Bay’s volunteer “You Days” to train with BDMLR, bringing that knowledge back into everyday life at the hotel.

“I spent the day on the beach in Bideford with brilliant instructors and volunteers, where we learned how to keep both seals, and ourselves, safe.”

Julie has now been a fully qualified marine mammal medic for two years, and the impact can be seen across the Bay – from rescues to removing ring frisbees from the shop, conversations with guests to children’s activities.

You might spot her walking the Bay before or after a shift, keeping an eye on what’s happening along the shoreline.

And if you do make that call to BDMLR, it might even be Julie, or Lizzi, responding.

If we teach children who are staying what to do, they’ll talk to their parents, and friends, so one person knowing becomes ten people.

Marvellous medics

Julie’s also inspired others to train. Her daughter is on the BDMLR course list, and a colleague in kids' zone is interested in becoming a medic. And, covering the full stretch of the UK coastline, with a 24/7 emergency service, the BDMLR needs all the volunteer medics it can get.

About our contributors

Lizzi Larbalestier is an advanced marine mammal medic and instructor with BDMLR, and an ocean advocate working along the Cornish coast. Before the construction of the BDMLR Cornwall Seal Hospital, Lizzi’s own home became a temporary seal hospital – caring for 139 sick and injured seals.

Julie Hull is our Reception Manager and a qualified marine mammal medic with BDMLR, bringing her training into daily life at the Bay.