ENVIRONMENT
Protect Our Seas
News and views from the world of marine heritage and conservation
The monochrome set
Rare black-coloured seal pups have been spotted by wardens among England ’ s largest grey seal colony . Normally , the seals are born a powdery white , then shed their fur to expose a grey coat at about two to three weeks old .
But about one in 400 - known as melanistic seals - sport a velvety black coat . Rangers at Blakeney Point in north Norfolk have seen 10 such melanistic pups over the course of the winter ’ s pupping season . Melanism is the increased development of the dark-coloured pigment , melanin .
Blakeney Nature Reserve , managed by the National Trust , is expecting a record-breaking 4,000 grey seal pups
Salmon farms in Scotland are no longer allowed to use ‘ lethal controls ’ against seals
56 this winter , though winter storms may account for some fatalities in the offshore environment .
Due to the increase in the number of pups , rangers have changed the way they count the seals born at the breeding ground . Rather than walking through the area and counting the newcomers , teams will monitor the number of pups in a defined area , then extrapolate the figure . Due to the size of the colony , the National Trust deemed it unsafe , both for staff and for the seals , to walk through it .
Blakeney has become England ’ s largest seal colony since recording its first pup in 1988 .
In 2019 , 3,399 pups were born there , compared with 25 in 2001 .
PHOTO : NATIONAL TRUST
Porpoise decline “ troubling ”
Harbour porpoise numbers in the North Sea are dropping , say scientists who have conducted long-term surveys of marine life in the area . As human activity has increased during the 20th and 21st centuries , the impact is feared to be taking a critical toll on numerous species .
The harbour porpoise is regarded as a ‘ sentinel species ’ – animals which indicate the health of an ecosystem and point to environmental risks . According to a study which examined the German North Sea , in some areas populations were declining by up to 3.8 per cent a year .
“ The trend seen here is concerning ,” said Dr Anita Gilles of the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover , Germany , one of the study ’ s authors . “ What is particularly troubling is the fact harbour porpoises have even experienced a strong decline in protected areas , such as the Sylt Outer Reef special area of conservation , which was specifically designated to keep marine life safe .” Meanwhile in southern parts of the North Sea , the population increased , indicating a possible shift in distribution .
Anger at seal ‘ raids ’
A seal incursion at a salmon farm on Skye has resulted in the loss of 52,000 juvenile fish and increased ill will towards the pinnipeds . It occurred at a farm based at Portree on Skye , managed by The Scottish Salmon Company ( SSC ), which was due to have new antipredator netting installed .
An SSC spokesman said : “ Our Portree site has recently been subject to persistent attacks from a large group of seals which , despite our best efforts , caused significant damage to one of our nets .
“ Our staff moved quickly to repair this damage