How to Watch Seals Safely ðŸ¦ðŸŒŠ
If you spend time in the sea around Scarborough and Cayton Bay, you’ll quickly realise something special — we don’t just share the water with other surfers.
We share it with grey seals resting on quiet beaches. With seabirds nesting along limestone cliffs. Occasionally even dolphins and porpoises passing through offshore.
The Yorkshire Coast is wild, raw and alive. As ocean users, we believe protecting that environment isn’t optional — it’s a shared responsibility.
Our Approach to Marine Awareness
Respect for marine wildlife sits at the heart of our coastal culture. During SUP tours, group sessions and community events — particularly where wildlife encounters are more likely — we take opportunities to promote responsible ocean behaviour and awareness.
The goal is simple: Enjoy the ocean. Protect what lives in it. Because wildlife encounters should feel special — not stressful for the animals involved.
Supporting Marine Mammal Rescue Awareness
We actively promote guidance aligned with British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), a national charity dedicated to the rescue and welfare of marine mammals across the UK.
If you ever see a seal that appears injured, entangled or in distress:
- Do not approach
- Do not touch
- Report it to the appropriate authorities
Untrained intervention can increase stress levels, cause further injury, lead to abandonment of seal pups and put you at risk.
SUP Tours & Seals — Keeping Encounters Safe
Stand-up paddleboarding offers a unique perspective of the coastline — and occasionally seals may be spotted resting on beaches or swimming nearby.
When this happens, we promote clear guidance:
- Stay at least 50 metres away from seals on land
- Never paddle directly towards them
- Do not block their access to the sea
- Keep noise levels calm
- Move away immediately if a seal repeatedly raises its head or enters the water suddenly
If a seal chooses to approach you, stay calm and let it control the distance. Wildlife should always have the choice.
How to Watch Seals Safely ðŸ¦
- Observe quietly
- Keep your distance
- Keep dogs on leads near haul-out areas
- Never feed them
- Never touch them
- Report injured or entangled animals to the correct authorities
Did You Know?
- Grey seals can weigh up to 300kg — they may look relaxed, but they are powerful wild animals.
- Taking a selfie that disturbs a seal can potentially be an offence under UK wildlife legislation.
- Seal pups can be abandoned if human presence repeatedly disrupts bonding between mother and pup.
- Seals often ‘spy hop’ — lifting their heads vertically out of the water — out of curiosity.
It’s Not Just Seals
Our coastline also supports cliff-nesting seabirds, migratory birds, sensitive rockpool ecosystems and seasonal fish spawning grounds.
Even small actions can have an impact — trampling fragile habitats, leaving litter behind, or allowing dogs to roam near wildlife resting areas.
Why This Matters to Ocean Users
Healthy marine ecosystems mean cleaner water, stronger coastal resilience and a sustainable future for surfing and paddleboarding.
We love seeing seals in the lineup. We love spotting them from a SUP board. But we love knowing they feel safe even more.
Because the best wildlife encounter is one where the animal carries on exactly as it was — undisturbed, wild, and thriving.
