Save the Seals
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Save the Seals
Seals, or phocids, are marine mammals fully adapted to aquatic life. Unlike their close relatives in the Otariidae family (such as sea lions), seals lack external ears and cannot walk on four legs. Instead, their streamlined bodies make them highly efficient swimmers, capable of covering long distances. Seals are found in every ocean and even in Lake Baikal, home to the only freshwater seal species. There are approximately 18 different seal species, ranging in size from the 1.2-metre ringed seal to the 6-metre southern elephant seal.
Seals possess unique adaptations for life in water. These include retractable nipples, internal testicles, and a thick layer of blubber beneath their skin. Their respiratory and circulatory systems are specially adapted for deep dives, enabling them to maintain internal pressure and conserve heat.
While seals spend most of their lives in the water, they come ashore to breed, give birth, and nurse their young. Female seals fast during the nursing period, relying on fat reserves accumulated during pregnancy to produce milk for their pups. Once the pups are ready to forage independently, the mothers return to the sea, leaving them behind.
Unlike sea lions, seals communicate through physical gestures, such as slapping their bodies or the water with their front flippers, and through sounds like grunts and teeth chattering.
The problem
The fishing industry poses the greatest threat to seals. Many seals, along with other marine animals, become entangled in trawling nets and die from asphyxiation, unable to surface for air.
Habitat loss is another major issue. Many seal species rely on the polar ice caps for shelter, breeding, and access to fish populations. However, melting ice and increased human activity, such as the expansion of beach resorts and hotels, have disrupted their habitats. Human proximity can also spread diseases between seals and humans. For instance, seals can transmit rabies and brucellosis to humans, while humans can pass tuberculosis and herpes to seals.
Seals are further impacted by ocean pollution and noise, as well as collisions with ships and speedboats, which often result in injuries or fatalities. Additionally, seals are hunted for their meat and fur, and because they are seen as competitors by fishermen.
Environmental Consequences
Seals are a crucial part of the marine ecosystem, serving as prey for larger animals such as sharks and whales. A decline in seal populations disrupts the balance, leading to a reduction in their predators and an overpopulation of their prey, such as fish and squid. This imbalance can have far-reaching ecological consequences.
Possible solutions
Protecting seals begins with understanding their importance and raising awareness. You can contribute by opting for sustainable seafood choices, such as crustaceans and oysters, or by reducing your overall seafood consumption.
Avoid purchasing products made from seal fur and support conservation efforts by donating to or volunteering with organisations that work to protect seals and their habitats.
WSF Activities and Initiatives
The World Sustainability Foundation supports Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary, an organisation based in the Shetland Isles that has cared for sick, injured, and abandoned seals and otters for over 30 years. The sanctuary rehabilitates these animals and releases them back into the wild. It also conducts environmental education to highlight human impacts on nature and promote coexistence with wildlife.
Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary was established in May 1987 when Jan Bevington rescued a premature seal pup washed ashore near her home, a 350-year-old former Hanseatic trading post. By the end of that summer, six more orphaned pups had been brought to her. Despite limited resources, Jan’s dedication never faltered. Within a year, she was also caring for abandoned otter cubs.
In 1993, the sanctuary faced its most significant challenge when the Braer oil tanker spilt 85,000 tonnes of oil off the Shetland coast. The sanctuary cared for 40 seals and 11 otters, with hundreds of volunteers stepping in to help. Today, Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary is internationally recognised for its exceptional care of marine mammals, attracting visitors worldwide.
The sanctuary’s year is divided into two seasons. During summer, common (harbour) seals give birth, while in winter, grey seals pup during the stormy months. Each year, orphaned seal pups arrive at the sanctuary, often separated from their mothers by harsh weather, premature birth, or predation by visiting killer whales.
Seal pups are initially tube-fed a homemade “fish porridge” to sustain them until they can eat fish on their own. They typically remain at the sanctuary for about three months before being released.
Reference
Berta, Annalisa; Churchill, Morgan; Boessenecker, Robert W. (2018-05-30).
“The Origin and Evolutionary Biology of Pinnipeds: Seals, Sea Lions, and Walruses”. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences. 46 (1).
Annual Reviews: 203–228. Bibcode:2018AREPS..46..203B. doi:10.1146/annurev-earth-082517-010009
Call to action to Save the Seals
- Choose only Friend of the Sea certified shrimps and prawns to Save the Seals.
- Sign Friend of the Sea Change.org petition to make it mandatory for shrimps to be verified Seals Safe.
- Contribute to Seals initiatives making donations.
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