12/10/2009

Farne Island seals

The thriving seal population on the Northumberland coast is pulling in the tourists but these large mammals are less popular with local fishermen. They say that the seals are eating too many fish and drastic measures are needed to cull the numbers.

Seal academic Sue Wilson wants to see more research done to plot where the seals are so fisherman can avoid them. She’d also like a ban on the shooting of them.

"I would like to see strict protection being brought in here as in Northern Ireland. I don’t consider shooting seals at random is a creative solution," she says.

But for visitors to the coast these remarkable animals are a huge draw. Here are some top tips for seal watching if you're a nature lover.

Getting close to nature can be a real adventure on the Farne Islands which lie off the Northumberland coast between Seahouses and Bamburgh.

The Farnes comprise 15-28 small islands including several which are only visible at low tide. They consist of volcanic igneous rock and are located on the eastern edge of a geological formation called the Whin Sill.

There is a large colony of about 3,000 grey seals, the largest meat eating mammal in the UK. Grey seals can be identified by their muzzles. Common seals have short muzzles and V-shaped nostrils while the greys have a longer muzzle and parallel nostrils.

The best way to get close to the seals is to take a boat trip during the Spring or Summer. There are several tours available of both Inner Farne and Staple Island. Tours include a cruise around all the islands and opportunities to close to the seal colonies.

If you haven't got sea-legs try seal watching from the land. Simply find a good vantage point and sit still. Check tide times and look for the seals hauled up on the rocks at low tide. Watch for the animals' heads bobbing around in the water during high tide.

Grey seals are very inquisitive so don't worry about getting up close although it's best to stand about a metre away just in case. If you get too near, they will show their teeth and growl so back off if you're getting too close for comfort.

While on land the seals appear awkward and clumsy, but underwater they’re wonderful swimmers. The grey seals usually dive underwater for about 10 minutes but they can remain submerged for up to 30.

Before diving they hyperventilate to saturate their blood with oxygen and expel most of the air from lungs before going in water. This makes them less buoyant and reduces risk of decompression sickness ("the bends"), a condition caused by absorbed nitrogen bubbles expanding within the blood stream.

During the breeding season each seal gives birth to a single pup and the female will suckle its offspring for three weeks. The pup will develop its own blubber layers under creamy white fur. Once the pup has put on about 30 kgs of weight, its mum will abandon it and return to sea. In the meantime she will mate again.

The young Grey Seal has to be tough to leave the security of the "rookery" or nursery and venture into the sea. They must quickly learn to find food and establish their position within the colony.

Throughout the breeding season look out for the white seal pups which stand out from the camouflaged grey adults. Their colour is thought to be a hangover from when they were born on ice and snow. Look out for young seals playing and vying to move up the hierarchical ladder.

Experts do not actively encourage people to seek out and swim with seals, but these animals are very curious and like to investigate new things such as swimmers and surfers. Never approach a seal or make any sudden movements.