Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina)
Key Details
| Taxonomic Groups: | Vertebrate > marine mammal > Seal |
| Red List Status: | (Not Relevant) [(not listed)(nr)] |
| D5 Status: | |
| Section 41 Status: | (not listed) |
| Taxa Included Synonym: | (none) |
| UKSI Recommended Name: | Phoca vitulina |
| UKSI Recommended Authority: | Linnaeus, 1758 |
| UKSI Recommended Qualifier: | (none specified) |
| Red List Citation: | (not listed) |
| Notes on taxonomy/listing: | (none) |
Criteria
| Question 1: | Does species need conservation or recovery in England? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Species has seen a recent decline. |
| Question 2: | Does recovery/ conservation depend on species-specific actions? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | Reasons for the decline are so far unknown. Determining these factors is crucial to conserving this species and rely on examining how this specific species is responding to pressures. |
| Question 3: | At a landscape scale, would the species benefit from untargeted habitat management to increase habitat mosaics, structural diversity, or particular successional stages? |
| Response: | No |
| Justification: | Not relevant to marine species |
Species Assessment
| Current step on the Species Recovery Curve (SRC): | 3. National Monitoring Plan agreed and implemented |
| Recovery potential/expectation: | Medium-high |
| National Monitoring Resource: | Combination - insufficient |
| Species Comments: |
Key Actions
Key Action 1
Proposed Action: Action the recommendation made by the JNCC QQ7 Review and the EFRA Committee Marine Mammal Inquiry to add native pinniped species to Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (all section 9 offences), with inclusion in revisited Police Wildlife Crime and Rural Affairs priorities in England (as already included in Wales), aimed at reducing the impact of anthropogenic disturbance.
Action targets: 4. Autecology and pressures understood
Action type: Scientific research
Duration: 2 years
Scale of Implementation: National
High priority sites:
Comments: Ensure that this includes the implementation of monitored buffer zones around haul-out sites, and REM, iVMS and AIS monitoring for all vessels operating around sensitive seal sites, and consult with communities to identify all coastal areas that should be designated as such.
Key Action 2
Proposed Action: Implement nationwide educational/engagement activity that increases general public and key stakeholder awareness and understanding around the problems caused by disturbance to marine wildlife, leading to fewer incidents of seals being disturbed by walkers when hauled out, or by boats when hunting in near-shore waters. Ensure the necessary capacity in statutory agencies to lead the Operation Seabird Initiative or an equivalent framework for public engagement in data collection and mitigation of disturbance countrywide. Ensure sustainability by creating an Operation Seabird 3 year strategy, and an Operation Seabird website with 3 layers (public; partner and enforcement agency) feeding into a national activity and disturbance reporting and recording database. Create improved Operation Seabird awareness raising resources (with a clearer focus on the risks associated with the terrestrial habits of seals), Wildlife Safe Scheme training for all coastal operators, harbour authorities and the watercraft operating public.
Action targets: 5. Remedial action identified
Action type: Education/awareness raising
Duration: >10 years
Scale of Implementation: National
High priority sites:
Comments:
Key Action 3
Proposed Action: Enhance the ongoing research program to investigate the multiple impacts contributing to the recent decline of the species. Collaborate with statutory agencies, marine biologists, ecologists, conservation organisations and citizen scientists to conduct studies on resource competition, seal senses, navigation, foraging strategies, and the use of offshore foraging areas in order to identify new and future threats, and inform legislation and conservation actions that would improve their prospect of recovery. A current lack of understanding of these biological and behavioural drivers is a barrier to developing effective conservation strategy for this species.
Action targets: 5. Remedial action identified
Action type: Scientific research
Duration: >10 years
Scale of Implementation: National
High priority sites:
Comments:
Acknowledgment:
Data used on this website are adapted from Threatened species recovery actions 2025 baseline (JP065): Technical report and spreadsheet user guide (Natural England, 2025). Available here.