1d6f1296ab5c7f8dcd27e4b940af6f68 English dataset Natural England Data Manager +44 (0)300 060 3900 +44 (0)300 060 2356 Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green York YO1 7PX enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk pointOfContact 2016-09-19 MEDIN Discovery metadata standard 2.3.8 urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326 2008-2009 Natural England (NE) Lundy. Status of grey seals Halichoerus grypus 2009-10-31 publication NATENG000245 http://www.naturalengland.org.uk The original aim of this study had been to run a baseline study to determine the number of grey seal pups being born at sites on Lundy, and therefore estimate the seal population size. Breeding sites around Lundy were accessed from the sea using a wave ski. Counts were made of adult seals as well as pups using general observation and digital photography. the dataset in the report includes seal counts at various sites around Lundy for 2008-2009 and finishes with reccommendations on how to approach and interact with seals in the future, both for scientific investigation and for commercial/public use. Stephen Westcott Natural England +44 (0)300 060 3900 +44 (0)300 060 2356 Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green York YO1 7PX enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk originator Natural England Data Manager +44 (0)300 060 3900 +44 (0)300 060 2356 Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green York YO1 7PX enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk custodian notPlanned Database Delimited Documents Marine Environmental Data and Information Network Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-01-06 revision Seal abundance Seal reproduction Seal behaviour Seal mortality SeaDataNet P021 parameter discovery vocabulary 2009-11-16 revision Marine Gardline 2012-03-16 creation Accessible under NE and DASSH terms and conditions otherRestrictions Accessible under NE and DASSH terms and conditions English biota Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2009-06-18 creation Western Channel and Celtic Sea ICES Rectangles 2009-05-01 creation 31E5 International Hydrographic Bureau, Limits of Oceans and Seas 1954-01-01 creation Celtic Sea -4.6918 -4.6438 51.1505 51.2120 2008-09-01 2009-06-30 Natural England Data Manager +44 (0)300 060 3900 +44 (0)300 060 2356 Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green York YO1 7PX enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk distributor dataset Nearly all fieldwork was conducted by approaching seal sites from the sea. A wave ski was used to minimise carbon footprint, noise and cost. The methods used for this investigation are more fully describes in Westcott, 2008. the following general guidelines were used throughout: Avoid alerting any seals present of your prescence. Move, Land and observe quietly at all times to avoid disturbance Awareness that seals can be very well camouflaged The aim of each site visit is to spend the least time there and, ideally, to remain unseen throughout. Information collected included: 1. Site plans, drawn approximately to scale and concentrating on the nature of the sea cave floor as well as any obstacles threatening safe navigation through the approaches to the cave. This is best collected during spring or early summer, when seals are least likely to be present and when sea conditions are less dangerous. 2. Count the number of seals present, distinguishing males from females from yearlings. If the sex is unknown, do not guess but record it as unknown. 3. Note the position of any seal assembly on the site. 4. Count pups and attempt to ‘age’ them. 5. Capture photographic images of the head and neck (left and right profiles) and chest of individual seals. 6. Note the behaviour of the seals (e.g. are they moulting; is there aggression; are they unusually relaxed?). 7. Note any human activity on or in the vicinity of the site. Marine Recorder survey number: MRNE01340000004D