Harbour Seals
A number of Common Seals (Phoca vitulina) also known as harbour seals live in the Solent and often visit Chichester Harbour. Each one has unique markings and even their colourings can be different ranging from tan to grey, black and brown. The females are generally smaller but with a longer lifespan. Atlantic Grey seal are also occassionally spotted. This is the only known rookery in the Eastern English Channel and so they are considered regionally unique and therefore very important.
Chichester Harbour provides an ideal habitat for them. Here they are relatively undisturbed and food is plentiful, as they like to tuck into fish and crustaceans. In addition there is plenty of mud and sand for them to rest on. They can be seen anywhere in the harbour and have been known to swim into the marinas and take a nap on the swimming platforms of moored boats!
If you do see one, enjoy it but please keep well away so that you do not cause any disturbance. You can report your sighting on the forum and even include a photo if you are lucky enough to get one.
Solent Seal Project
The Solent Seal project is a partnership project, led by the Wildlife Trusts South East Marine Programme in partnership with Chichester Harbour Conservancy, Sea Mammal Research Unit, and Natural England.
This project is aimed at improving our knowledge of the Solent harbour seal population by gathering data on their movements, feeding and breeding habits. It will help indicate population numbers and result in useful data that can be used to assess changes to the population over time, such as the declines that have been seen elsewhere in the country. The information will allow us to highlight important sites, such as where they rest, feed and breed, and work to get them recognised in management and conservation plans, which will help protect the seals.
More information: www.hwt.org.uk/pages/seal-project.html
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