Please respect wildlife particularly during bird breeding season (April to August) and the seal pupping season (August to December). If you are concerned about a seal, please ring the National Seal Sanctuary on 01326 221361.
Don’t land on closed islands (see map) – they are sanctuaries for breeding birds and seals which need breathing space away from human disturbance. There are many other islands for you to enjoy.
When anchoring, try to look for clear areas and avoid anchoring in eelgrass (seagrass). These underwater meadows are home to many juvenile fish and a myriad of other species.
Boat users should maintain a slow steady speed when approaching seals, watch their reaction to your approach and adjust your behaviour and distance so that you don’t scare them off the rocks. Seals need to ‘haul out’ on rocks to digest their food and disturbance is harmful to them.
Kayaks can approach wildlife silently and have the potential to surprise and frighten it. Please take care not to approach seals and birds too closely, especially if they have not seen you.
If you visit the seals, watch them for a while and then move away and give them space. It is best to limit your time with them and to stay away from the rocks that they use.
If you want to see seals up close or in the water it is best to go on an organised trip, it will be an unforgettable wildlife experience for you and it will be led so that seal disturbance is minimised.
If you are lucky enough to see dolphins or porpoises try to stay at least 100m from them, allowing them to approach you if they wish. Don’t scare them by driving head onto them or moving between them. The same applies for basking sharks.
Shrimping season runs from 1st July to 30th September. Not taking shrimps at other times of year helps to sustain their population.
Taking shellfish is discouraged in order to protect their populations.
The islands offer spectacular opportunities for divers but please take care not to kick delicate and slow growing marine life like pink sea fans with your fins. Lines can damage and entangle marine life and should be removed after the dive.
Let curiosity be the only reason for seals to visit you, never feed wild seals and remember that seals have strong claws and sharp interlocking teeth.
It is recommended that dive boats ask advice about where to anchor for the dive sites to avoid damage to marine life.
