Harbour seals are declining across the UK, but we still don't know why. Although grey seals remain nationally stable, the UK supports around 38% of the world's grey seal pups, and statutory monitoring outside the breeding season is limited. Existing volunteer and citizen science groups collect year-round data, but efforts are split across groups working without shared infrastructure, funding, or capacity; preventing a reliable national picture.

Across the UK, volunteers are already watching beaches, logging sightings, and stepping in when seals are hurt or in trouble. Our model connects volunteers, researchers and groups via a UK-wide network, so every sighting counts. We’ll provide resources and training that meet volunteers where they are; alongside a central repository with research and monitoring data from independent groups across the country - providing the data needed to address the pressures putting seals at risk.