Citizen science reveals seal site variability on a regional scale

Monitored by amazing CSG volunteers

 Previous publications have provided a short term

snapshot of seal information over localised areas
(Steven, 1935; Davies 1957; Smith, 1966; Summers,
1974; Prime, 1985; T. Leeney et al, 2010)
Cornwall Seal Groups research aims to add breadth
(spatially and temporally) and depth (in terms of detail
about age/sex; land/sea habitat use and inter/intra
annual variation) to demonstrate the variability of sites
and their usage by seals
To gain this insight, fragmented coastal sites across the
SW peninsular of England were monitored by a large
number of local, volunteer citizen scientists, surveying
their own patch regularly over a sustained period of
time.
Such an understanding of habitat use, by which seals
and when, is essential for effective conservation

Way more seals use these sites than

implied by the max counts
(E.g. 832 IDs at West Cornwall in 2013)

Seals move through these sites with

seasonally repeated patterns

North Cornwall

Cornwall

DP443 Three scars

PJ

PT
West
Cornwall

Cornwall

20km

IoS

Seal movements tracked by photo ID

Skomer

Lundy

North Devon

MPF61 CMPF127 Frog nettie

North Cornwall

West Cornwall

Isles of Scilly

50 miles

Seal movements tracked by photo ID

Skomer

Lundy

North Devon

MPF103 Mountain stream

North Cornwall

(Red and green)

MPF104 Star 100

(Red only)
West Cornwall

Isles of Scilly

50 miles

SW seal movements tracked by photo ID

Lundy

Cornwall

DP399 Scissors Slit

PJ

West Cornwall

Cornwall

20km

IoS

Seal movements linking along the north coast

LI

North Cornwall

Cornwall

PJ
West FC
Cornwall

IoS

PT

Cornwall

LP33 Woody

20km

SW seal movements tracked by photo ID

S262 Ghost 2

North Devon

Cornwall

West Cornwall

Cornwall

20km

IoS

Seal movements tracked by photo ID

S311 Raised Eyebrow

(2 to 4 only)

DP114 Back r

NC

Cornwall

West
Cornwall

1
2
IoS

20km

Cornwall
and the
Isles of Scilly

DP382 Peapod

S280 L2L

St I B

IoS

20km

DP74 White back P

S62 Man with horse/cart

Skomer

Carracks
West
Cornwall
Isles of
Scilly

50 miles

Seal movements linking north coast to south

Cornwall

Chris and Claire Radmall Looe

Lightning
Kynance
Cove

Cornwall

Looe
St Austell Bay

20km

IoS

Seen by Sue Sayer with pup at Kynance 09/10/09

DP427 Wotsit

West Cornwall

Looe
St Austell Bay

Roseland

20km

Seal movements linked to Looe

LM9 Sunrise
West
Cornwall

Cornwall
Looe

IoS

Roseland

20km

S358 Face Scar

50 miles

DP258 Open Kiss

Skomer

2012 Dave Boyle

2013

West
Cornwall

2014

DP146 Firework

Skomer
5

North
Cornwall

4
7

West 6
Cornwall1

50 miles

S250 Upside down v plane

Skomer

Gulland

St I B

50 miles

S203 Spade

Skomer

West
Cornwall
St Austell Bay
Roseland

50 miles

DP393 Teddie

Pupping locations
S89 Wings
S163 Wriggle
S262 Ghost 2
S412 Wriggle 2
S361 Lightning
S464 Kelp

20km

Seal mum movements tracked by photo ID

Seal site functional linkages

West Cornwall

North Cornwall

North Devon

Isles of Scilly

28

Lundy
Pembrokeshire

5
35

2
8

3
5

Iroise PNMI

SAC links

Other ID locations for seals seen

at West Cornwall
Females Males
1 seal

17/03/14

Ramsey

2-5 seals
6-10 seals
Skomer

11-15 seals

North Devon

16-20 seals
Lundy

21-25 seals
26-30 seals

North Cornwall
31-35 seals

West Cornwall

Isles of Scilly

0
France (incl 4 tags)

50 miles

Huge thanks to every single

volunteer who has contributed a
seal record
Together our teamwork can really
make a difference!