Northumberland Wildlife Trust is delighted that a rare bearded seal visited Beadnell Beach at the weekend – May 29.

This visit is the first ever record of a bearded seal to Northumberland since records began.

The young seal was spotted quite happily lying on the beach and appeared quite fit, fat and healthy. Local wildlife tour guide Alan Tilmouth, from Northumbrian Wildlife Tours waited with the young seal for 90 minutes to ensure the tide washed it back into the sea and to safeguard it against dog attacks.

Kevin O’Hara, Conservation Officer with Northumberland Wildlife Trust and mammals expert said: “This seal was way off course as species of this type normally inhabit the waters around the Arctic. Seals wander the seas and very often get blown off course and my guess is that the strong north westerly winds have altered the water currents and blown it here. There was no cause for concern although it is very unusual for it to make an appearance on a beach in Northumberland.”

The bearded seal, also called the square flipper seal is found in and near the Arctic Ocean. It’s most characteristic feature is the conspicuous and very abundant whiskers.
The bearded seal reaches about 2.25m (7.4ft) to 2.7m (8.9ft) in nose to tail length and from 275kg (606lb) to 340kg (750lb).

Leaders of the three main political parties have been sent a letter from The Wildlife Trusts – urging them to introduce a White Paper on nature and ecological restoration in their manifestoes.

She said: “The UK Government must ensure the restoration of wildlife is at the heart of decision-making over land use and management. Nature is important to us all but it is in deficit. A new impetus for restoring the natural environment is urgently needed. A White Paper would focus attention on what the next government should do to restore our natural environment and ecosystems.

Hilborne added: “Our natural world is precious. It inspires millions of us every day and provides us with essential services like flood protection, food, climate regulation, carbon absorption and pollination. These are fundamental to our health, well-being and a successful economy.

“Already seriously depleted and damaged, the pressures on the UK’s wildlife and ecosystems are increasing, exacerbated by climate change. It has never been more important to protect wildlife everywhere and on a landscape-scale. It is now increasingly recognised we must restore nature, as well as part of plans for climate change adaptation.”

The Marine and Coastal Access Act, which recently passed through Parliament with all party support, is the first step on the road to recovery for our seas. The UK’s seas are potentially among the most productive and wildlife-rich on earth. Marine Protected Areas should provide safe havens where our wildlife can be protected and restored. The next Government must provide strong leadership, commitment and resources to effectively implement the new legislation.

Common lobster.

Divers exploring beneath the waves off Durham’s Heritage Coast have uncovered a great environmental success story.

Once one of the most polluted stretches of coastline in the UK, a Seasearch survey reveals it is now host to a colourful variety of marine life.

Divers encountered a varied undersea landscape of kelp forests, sandy sea bed and sponge-encrusted rocky reefs reclaimed by nature from the county’s industrial past that saw millions of tone of coal rubble dumped off the coast.

The Seasearch divers have recorded numerous species including lobsters, many types of crab, squat lobsters, northern prawns, little cuttle, sea slugs, urchins, common starfish, brittle stars and colourful anemones. Various types of fish have also taken up residence including plaice, bib and the ferocious sounding but harmless long-spined sea-scorpions.

Seasearch diver Carrie Pillow who has 25 years experience of diving in the UK said: “A lot of divers just go to the well-known dive sites like St Abbs and the Farne Islands, but the North East Coast has so much more to offer! We have some amazing sites that are just teeming with life and they are so tranquil.”

Heritage Coast Officer Niall Benson welcomed the survey news, “The principle work of this partnership is to protect and enhance the landscape and nature conservation areas and this is coastal management at its best.

“Looking at the fantastic photographs the divers took showing a stunning array of wonderful wildlife makes all the planning and hard work worthwhile. I am really delighted that we can now boast such a rich natural heritage.”

The coast is managed by the Durham Heritage Coast Partnership which supported the survey. When the collieries were working and before the Turning the Tide Millennium clean up project the water was black with coal dust and many areas were almost devoid of life.

Anyone who is an experienced diver and is interested in helping Seasearch to map the marine habitats and species of the North East Coast should contact Carrie Pillow carrie@seasearchne.org.uk or visit the website at www.seasearchne.co.uk

Photos (L-R) Harbour crab – specks of coal dust are still visible in the sand. The wonderfully named nudibranch cuts a dash on the Durham coastline seabed. Brittle star on sponge. Little cuttle fish. Northern prawn. A plaice merges with the sea bed. Click on any thumbnail to enlarge the image.

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