The common seal is the most widely distributed pinniped, and there are thought to be between 400,000 - 500,000 individuals. They inhabit the waters of the north Atlantic and north Pacific Oceans.

Common seals pup in June and July, usually on exposed rocks or sandbanks. They are found locally in the Firth of Forth, with better numbers from the East Neuk of Fife north to Peterhead.

Two common seal pups were released back into the wild at Poole Harbour by the DWT and the RSPCA recently. The DWT is monitoring them through the Dorset Seal project, and by using its ‘seal cam’.