Solent Seals On The Up

 Solent Seals On The Up
The secrets of the Solent seal population have been revealed by a new aerial survey by the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, with the support of staff and berth holders at Dean & Reddyhoff’s Haslar Marina.
 
The survey found that a minimum of 49 harbour seals, including 11 pups and seven grey seals, are currently resident in the Solent. The areas surveyed were Langstone Harbour, Chichester Harbour, Portsmouth Harbour, Ryde sandbanks, Beaulieu and Newtown Creek.
 
The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has been counting the seal population since 1994, when just three harbour seals were recorded. The survey takes place each August, when the seals moult and spend more time ashore.
 
www.hiwwt.org.uk; www.deanreddyhoff.co.uk