Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Ben Maguire (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 2 January 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 6 January 2026. It was answered by Mary Creagh (Labour) on Friday, 9 January 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Seals: Animal Welfare

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and what assessment her Department has made of the potential impacts of the decision to reject JNCC's recommendations on seals' ability to rest undisturbed at haul out sites, following JNCC's Seventh Quinquennial Review of Schedules 5 and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Answer

Our grey and harbour seals face a range of threats and pressures, including potential impacts from disturbance at haul out sites. However, the best available evidence indicates that the effects of disturbance can be variable and are highly site specific and context dependent, with evidence of UK-wide population level impacts less certain.

Although the decision was made to reject JNCC’s recommendations following the seventh quinquennial review of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, seals remain protected under a suite of legislation which make it an offence to take, injure, capture, or kill seals. Seals are also safeguarded from disturbance where they are a notified feature of designated conservation sites such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
102337
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Animal welfare Seals
Legislation
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk