
Seal Tagging Feasibility
Project Focus

This project was conducted with the aim of creating a resource that could be used to inform future research in the area of grey seal interactions with offshore wind farms off the Cumbrian coast. Developers and conservation organisations expressed interest in conducting a tagging study using satellite telemetry to observe the seals' movements in relation to the wind farms. This project targeted knowledge gaps on what conducting a tagging study would involve, and investigated some of the ethical considerations that needed to be made to determine whether this research should go ahead. To do this, existing research was assessed to weigh up the costs and benefits of different methods of tracking seal movements. Collaboration with various stakeholders and experts in the field provided insight on the topic, and revealed varying opinions and priorities. This work will hopefully help inform how to proceed with further research, and offer alternatives if satellite telemetry is determined to be too invasive a method.
Location:
Cumbria, Irish Sea
Timeline:
June - December 2024

Deliverables

Intended Impacts
Partner Organisations:
- The Crown Estate
- North West Wildlife Trusts
- Natural England
Funding Organisations
- The Crown Estate
Associated Organisations:
- N/A

