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Mystery seal deaths
15/08/2010
An investigation is underway following the unusual deaths of 33 seals washed up along the east coast of Scotland and England.
Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead has asked scientists to examine the potential cause of death of the animals whose carcasses were washed ashore showing a single, smooth-edged cut starting at the head and spiralling around the body.
The Sea Mammal Research Unit at the University of St Andrews will investigate the strange 'corkscrew' injuries, which are not consistent with any known phenomenon such as those caused by fishing nets or boat propellers.
Report a seal death
e-mail: smruseal@st-andrews.ac.uk
Call: 01334 462 630
Mr Lochhead said:
"Seals form an important part of Scotland's rich marine environment and it's critical that we establish the cause of these strange seal deaths and do all we can to protect our seal populations, particularly as numbers have reduced in recent years.
"I would encourage any member of the public who encounters a seal carcass to contact the Sea Mammal Research Unit, which will help to establish the scale of these issues.
"The Scottish Government has already taken decisive action to provide additional protection for the endangered common seals, as set out in our new Marine Act."
Within the last two months seven incidents involving both common and grey seals have been reported in St Andrews Bay and the Firth of Forth. Six further incidents, which took place in 2008 and 2009 in the same areas, have since been linked to these phenomena. Meanwhile, four incidents were reported in Norfolk in July, part of twenty such occurrences in that area over the last year. Similar unsolved seal mortalities have been reported off the Atlantic coast of Canada in the past ten years.
Report a seal death
e-mail: smruseal@st-andrews.ac.uk
Call: 01334 462 630
Professor Ian Boyd, Director of the Sea Mammal Research Unit, said:
"We need to investigate the causes of these unfortunate deaths and how widespread the problem might be. This will inform any consideration of population impacts and potential mitigation.
"This investigation is important because these deaths come on top of significant declines observed in some Scottish common or harbour seal populations. SMRU welcomes any reports from the public of dead seals being washed ashore."
Dr John Baxter, Head of Species Management with Scottish Natural Heritage, added:
"All accidental deaths of seals are a matter of concern but with the significant decline in numbers of common or harbour seals on the east coast and in the Northern Isles of Scotland in recent years this additional source of mortalities is particularly unwelcome.
It is important that the cause of these injuries and the scale of the problem are identified as soon as possible and Scottish Natural Heritage is working closely with Scottish Government and the Sea Mammal Research Unit to try to resolve this matter."
A number of seal carcasses have been sent to pathologists at the Scottish Agricultural College for autopsy.
Report a seal death
e-mail: smruseal@st-andrews.ac.uk
Call: 01334 462 630