Seal populations continue to climb off New England coast

Good News in deed. What about the rest of Marine Life? is it been monitored and are there results to compare since I know a few arguments that will pup up rather soon.

And  seal populations have been eating too many salmon according to the Amerindians of Oregon state.

They say it is time to hunt them again as they are in excess.

I've been photographing the grey seals at Helgoland (above Germany) the beginning of this year. In 1990 the first pups were born there, and this year there were 58 pups, a new record in births. Although the people sometimes get way to close to these pups, they seem not to be bothered too much and are doing well. For more images of the seals look at the Helgoland gallery on http://www.mmfoto.nl

Mousehill has contributed a photo to this story.

Seals are cute, but other species are now being depleted.  They need to be controlled.

You wanna know how to deal with too many seals?  Ask a Newfoundlander.  But don't tell PETA.

that great news

stevipedia has contributed a photo to this story.

i think this is great news, but i am sure they will get culled because of pressure from the fishing fleets. Although  if they are getting too competitive and are eating too many of some or all species of fish, then perhaps there is some justification. But I like to eat fish. On the other hand,  if you told me i could save species of mammal if I skipped 1 or 2 servings of fish, they I would skip a couple of meals.

This is really a good news. Lovely. luckily they are now protected.

The British population of grey seals is of great international conservation importance and we are fortunate to have a thriving colony on the Lincolnshire coast.

For much of the year the seals are at sea or hauled out on distant sandbanks, but during the winter they come to breed near the dunes on the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve at Donna Nook. The RAF Bombing Range at Donna Nook provides the seals with a relatively disturbance-free site for hauling out. The seals are not the least bit concerned by the planes & over a 1000 pups were born here during November & December 2008. Staff at RAF Donna Nook make every effort to make sure that no harm comes to any animal because of military activity. The Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust manages Donna Nook as a Nature Reserve with the agreement of the Ministry of Defence.

brydeb has contributed a photo to this story.

Hi i took these photo's while birding in the Uk along the Lincolnshire coast,this colony were i took the pictures is one of the largest in the uk and is on an RAF bombing range.

Juncea has contributed a photo to this story.

Just some Grey Seals that where been looked after at Deep Sea World, Queensferry, Scotland before been released to join all the other Grey Seals in the Herbrides.

whitewitch317 has contributed a photo to this story.

Taken At Donna Nook, Lincolnshire. Coast taken up by RAF base and fairly remote

Cats mother has contributed a photo to this story.

Thanks for sharing your photos here!

Lets face it, the seal population will be regulated by the abundance of prey species. If other species are declining it is because humans have gone beyond simple predator prey interdependancy and seem happy to hunt things until they are gone.

So if the numbers are rising on the east coast of the US, good news I say.

As an aside, photo is of a Grey Seal on the lincolnshire Coast.

mjc40d has contributed a photo to this story.

Betcha the Cod stocks aint doing so well off the coast though!

Yeah but now they will go off the list.  Double edged sword.  Literally!

The Donna Nook Grey Seal Colony - Managed by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve Britain's population of grey seals is considered to be of international conservation importance. Donna Nook is home to some 3000 Grey seals at certain times of the year, and in 2008 more than 1000 pups were born here. For most of the year the Grey seals disperse out to sea or haul out around the coast. However from October - December the seals come to breed near the dunes at Donna Nook. Donna Nook is owned by the MOD as a bombing range. The seals seem remarkably undisturbed by the planes. The reserve covers more than 10 km (6.25 miles) of coastline.

Alan Hilditch has contributed a photo to this story.

Alans Seal Photos set

http://www.flickr.com/photos/turquoisedays/sets/72157610552304529/

Actually these seals were photographed in UK at Blakeney Point, a place on the North Norfolk coast, here is a mix of grey and common seals and at the present time I think I am right in saying the population is also growing.

bill.lee91 has contributed a photo to this story.

How did I miss this earlier. Thanks for this report.

Excellent, I am happy. Thanks.

Grey seals are on the increase at Donna Nook, however according to scientists from the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) at <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />St Andrews University, there is a small decline of common seals at Donna Nook. SMRU conducts annual surveys of seals and in their last one they reported that overall there is a “frightening” decline of common seals in the UK.

Report available at: http://www.smru.st-andrews.ac.uk/pageset.aspx?psr=411

I am not sure if any of you are aware, but up to 5,000 seals are shot in the UK each year by fishing interest, notably Scottish salmon farms and netsmen.

The Seal Protection Action Group (SPAG) believes that the indiscriminate shooting of seals ha splayed its part in the decline of common seals and must end.

If you love seals, then please help us to protect them! Visit our website for further information: www.sealaction.org

Please also note that SPAG and our campaign to protect seals will be featured on BBC Countryfile at 7pm on 5th April 2009. Tune in and learn about UK seals.

Thanks!