NewsBeat
Coastguards ask public not to ring them about seals
Humber Coastguard says seals like to relax on the beaches in good weather where they are seen by people also enjoying the seaside who think the marine mammals are in trouble and ring 999.
That connects them to the coastguard, the marine emergency service for humans.
“We’ve had a high number of calls recently about seals that turned out to be perfectly fine,” said Michael Niblett from HM Coastguard
“Seals often come ashore to rest, and approaching them can actually cause them stress or even lead to aggressive behaviour.”
“Please think carefully before calling 999 for the Coastguard about a seal that appears healthy. It can take valuable time away from genuine emergencies.”
Coastguards are not the correct people to ring even if the seal is injured.
“If you do see an injured seal, please contact BDMLR (British Divers Marine Life Rescue),” said Mr Niblett.
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