INVESTIGATIONS have taken place into why dead seals are being found on UK beaches as an expert in the region says it is not uncommon at this time of the year.
It comes amid a spate of reports in recent weeks of dead seals being found on beaches at Whitby and Sandsend in North Yorkshire and North and South Gare in Redcar.
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Defra says there is no evidence linking these seal deaths to the ongoing investigation into crab and lobster deaths in the North East after thousands washed up on beaches in October.
Experts say large numbers of seal deaths can occur for many reasons, including storm surges, food shortages, trauma, predation or disease outbreaks.
Dead seals found on beaches at Whitby and Sandsend in North Yorkshire and North and South Gare in Redcar
And the government’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Wildlife Expert group has carried out post-mortems on seal samples, taken from a range of sites in Great Britain, over the last year and not seen any evidence of an emerging disease.
Dr Martin Kitching, who leads the North East Cetacean Project (NECP) based in Northumberland, surveys marine life off the region’s coast and has not heard any cause for concern over the current number of dead seals being found on the region’s beaches.
Although Dr Kitching’s work is primarily focused on dolphins, he is in contact with colleagues who are researching seal movements and he has not heard of a particular spike in seal deaths along the northern coastline.
He said that seal deaths at this time of year are not uncommon as grey seals give birth between October and December.
This means young pups have to contend with some of the worst winter conditions and not all of them survive.
Dr Kitching said: “At this time of the year you have quite a lot of young, inexperienced seals that can’t cope with the weather conditions.
“I have not seen from any colleagues who deal mainly with seals that they are overly concerned (about the number of deaths), but I would love to know why all these crustaceans washed up.
"That didn't happen much further than the Teesside coastline, it hasn't hit Northumberland."
Dead seals were found on beaches at Whitby and Sandsend in North Yorkshire and North and South Gare in Redcar
Investigations, led by Defra, are continuing into the crustacean deaths and this week fishermen have spoken of the ‘catastrophic effect’ the phenomena is having on their livelihoods.
One fishing industry leader told the PA news agency he believes an algal bloom may be the most likely explanation for the devastating phenomena.
Barrie Deas, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, said: “An algal bloom – a natural event in the water that happens from time to time – might be the most likely cause, although not definite yet.”
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He said: “This is very serious for the vessels that are affected.
“The fishermen are very anxious to find the solution and this is having a major impact on their livelihoods.
“So far, we’ve been talking to the scientists and we’ve asked local MPs to ask parliamentary questions to raise the profile of the issue.”
George Lamplough, a fisherman from Whitby, said: “Our industry has collapsed in the last few months. We rely on these species for a living.
“The effect this has had on us has been catastrophic. I haven’t made a wage in weeks.
“Things are getting desperate for us.
“It is impossible to go to sea, take the inherent risks and, at the end of the week, end up with less in the bank than before.”
He added: “Eight years ago, I moved from the Isle of Wight to Whitby to be a fisherman.
“My livelihood is being stolen away and my choices are being reduced to losing the job I love or leaving the life I have built.”
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