Since 1983 the Grey Seal population on Skomer has been systematically monitored which makes this project one of the longest running and most valuable mammal studies anywhere in the UK. 

In order to know how our wildlife is faring we firstly need to establish what is normal and secondly observe whether there are any deviations from it. This study provides us with amazing insights into the lives of these marine mammals, which is not only informative to science and research but also gives us the privilege of spending time observing these special animals.

Our staff work closely with the marine biologists at the Skomer Marine Conservation Zone, based in Martin’s Haven, to deliver the annual survey of pups born on the island. In addition to recording the number of pups born our grey seal project officer also follows the progress of each pup to determine survival rates and record any cases of entanglement in netting or disturbance. Many animals are distinctively marked or scarred and this enables the team to identify individual animals from one year to the next.

2023 was another good breeding season for the Grey Seal on Skomer Island with 250 pups born. 
 

175 pups survived to weaning (15 pup’s fate is unknown) resulting in a survival rate of nearly 70%.

This year the pupping began early with the first pups born on North Haven beach and Driftwood Bay on 28 July 2023. Most pups were born between 4 and the 17 September 2023.

In 2023 the maximum haul-out was 504 seals recorded on 7 November 2023, which is a rather steep increase of 116 animals compared to the previous year. 

Every year some seals, which have been rehabilitated by animal sanctuaries, are recorded on Skomer. This season eleven animals with numbered flipper tags were observed. One of them was the cow BK-066 alias Bagshot. She is 24 years old and uses Skomer most years to haul-out and in 2017 she pupped on North Haven beach. In 2023 she was regularly observed in October and November.

Unfortunately, the injuries from entanglement, she suffered as a yearling, are still not fully healed and the cow is often seen with gashes where the scars have burst open.

Another very interesting visitor which was actually seen in 2022 but only identified in 2023 was an immature cow with a white tag with the number 75.

This animal was rehabilitated in Southern France and released in May 2022. After her return to the sea, she swam in less than a month 750km to Mousehole in Cornwall where she was observed by a diver in August 2022. She then travelled a further 200km to Skomer where she hauled-out in October.

What an incredible journey for a young seal.

Our annual Grey seal report is available to download from our website: 
Reports and publications | The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (welshwildlife.org)