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This project successfully funded on 9th July 2024, you can still support them with a donation.
Thames Seal Watch
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
£305
raised so far
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Aim
Thames Seal Watch (TSW) is a London-based organisation dedicated to fostering community education, awareness, and protection of Thames seals
Help Protect London’s Seals (and Their Marine Neighbours)
Over 3,600 seals live in the Thames, and sightings in London are rising. But with more seals come more risks. In 2021, beloved local seal Freddie was killed by a dog. His death was a wake-up call: the greatest threats to seals in the Thames are human related and preventable through education and advocacy.
That is why Thames Seal Watch was born.
We are a London-based community initiative dedicated to protecting seals through education, awareness, and action. We work in partnership with British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) and the Seal Alliance and are part of the national Give Seals Space campaign, helping people and wildlife safely share the river.
What We Have Done So Far
🦭 Protection
After Freddie’s death, we brought the Seal Protection Bill to Parliament alongside the Seal Alliance, MPs Sarah Olney and Dame Tracey Crouch CBE. Our efforts helped launch the UK’s first Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code, and we continue to campaign for stronger legal protections with the latest Marine Mammal Protections Bill to include disturbance in protections for seals.
📢 Awareness
We have helped install official Give Seals Space signs in Richmond, Mortlake, Chiswick, Barnes, Kew, Hammersmith, Teddington, and have recently received permission for Putney and Hampton. These signs, supported by DEFRA, local councils, BDMLR and the Seal Alliance, give the public clear guidance on how to behave responsibly around seals to protect both the animals and themselves.
📚 Education
Through our Seal Ambassador Club,we are creating a school educational programme about seals in the Thames that includes a growing library of educational materials, and we are currently building two online public courses, one focused on Thames seals and one on whales and dolphins, to help more Londoners understand and protect the marine wildlife on their doorstep.
🔬 Research
We have launched the first Thames Seal ID Log, identifying seals that spend time in London, some only briefly, while others remain for extended periods. For seals that stay longer, we create individual profiles documenting their behaviour, social relationships, diet, health, and movement patterns. This information is contributed to an international AI-supported database, allowing scientists in neighbouring regions to identify whether seal populations are shared across locations.
🤝 Volunteering
As seal sightings further upstream in the Thames increase, so do the number of haul-out sites where seals come to rest. Many of these locations are busy public spaces, where close human interaction can become harmful for both people and animals. We are building a volunteer network to monitor haul-outs, encourage safe distances, keep dogs on leads, and provide on-site education about seals in London.
With your support, we can grow our work, reach more people, and protect more of London’s extraordinary river wildlife during a time of rapid environmental change.
Join us. Protect the river. Stand up for seals.
👉 www.sealwatch.london
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made