Announcing new guidance: the National Seal Release Protocol

BIAZA is pleased to release the National Seal Release Protocol – a collaboration with British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), Cornish Seal Sanctuary, RSPCA, Seal Alliance, and the BIAZA Pinniped Focus Group.

This Seal Release Protocol Framework has been developed as a tool for animal care and rehabilitation centres to guide and manage the safe and successful release of seals back to the wild.

Seals may be in need of rescue, recovery, and release for many reasons, often due do human interference as well as stormy weather, dogs, entanglement from litter/fishing nets, or other reasons they have been separated from their mothers. Several organisations across the British Isles run seal sanctuaries to support these two native species; harbour seals and grey seals.  

This new framework aims to standardise the release procedure for seals that have undergone rehabilitation, ensuring that the time, effort and resources are focused on best outcomes, best practice and the long-term survival of wild seals post rehabilitation.

We thank all the organisations and authors who contributed to this framework, by extension elevating the standard of seal conservation, research and welfare.

The National Seal Release Protocol can be downloaded via the link below: