Common Seals

The Common Seal otherwise called as Harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) is generally found across sandy coastlines. One of the largest single colony of common seals is spotted in the Wash falling between Lincolnshire and Norfolk. A number of sandbanks that remain exposed to low tide prove a comfortable location for the seals to haul out for resting and breeding.

The grown up males of common seals measure up to 1.85m in length and weigh about 105 kg. The females are shorter by 10 cm and lighter by 20 kg. The females survive for 25-30 years and outlive the male members, which can live only up to 20 years. Common seal has a round, flat face with narrow nostrils. Most common seals look like large dogs.

June and July are the breeding months for common seals. Generally, common seals breed in sand banks, estuaries, shingle beaches, and sheltered rocky shores. At birth, the pups are about 10 kg and measure about 85 cm in length. Quite interestingly, unlike other types of seals, common seals can swim right from their birth. Mothers suckle their young ones either in land or water.

The milk of common seals contain up to 45% fat and during weaning, the pups gain around 0.6kg of weight. During the first two weeks of their life, the mothers always monitor their pups closely. Common seal pups are nursed for about 21-30 days. Following this period, they learn to catch their prey and till they are fully equipped, they will have to burn down their fat reserve.

Young seals travel several hundred kilometers inside the sea, but the remain close to their favorite haul-out areas. Traveling up to 50km from the haul-out area, quite many times they remain at the sea for several days. In the seawater, the common seals can dive reaching about 50 meters and can stay under the water for about ten minutes. The common seal hunt extends into a range of fish like whiting, flatfish, herring, and sandeels, apart from squids and shrimps.

In 1988, an outbreak of deadly disease caused by phocine distemper virus resulted in the death of over 17000 common seals. In addition, heavy metals and pollutants can cause their death or cause impotency. Common seal pups are targeted for hunt in large numbers due to the commercial value of their skin. Shetland and Wash areas report predominant hunting of common seals. The over exploitation of the seal population in many areas has led to the protection of seals through legislative measures.

The Conservation of Seals Act (1970) prevents the hunting of seals during their breeding season. However, seals found damaging the fishing gears and taking fish from the nets may be killed under license. Increasing awareness rising worldwide concerns are pleading to put an end to killing common seals.