Dutch seal ‘Barbara’ makes Ecréhous her Ecre-home

Friday 27 July 2018

How would you feel if an unannounced group noisily entered your house before paparazzi snapping you? It’s a question visitors are being urged to consider before approaching the Ecréhous’ newest resident, Dutch seal Barbara.

Marine rescuers said they were delighted that she had decided to make the offshore reef her home after a months-long journey from Northwest Europe, but are now worried for the highly “vulnerable” grey seal’s safety.

They are now calling on the Fisheries Department to ensure that all boats – and the people on them – stay well away.

Barbara was first spotted in the area on Sunday by rib trip operator Jersey Seafaris, who believed she might be dying as she had been floating around in a “lifeless” way.

Pictured: The Dutch seal catches 40 winks on the offshore reef after making her way via the Netherlands and France. 

After spotting an ID tag, the Channel Islands British Divers Marine Life Rescue Group (BDMLR) were able to identify her from a database as ‘Barbara’, who had come all the way from the Netherlands.

She had been taken into rehab there in November last year with heavy lungworm, before being released in January. In March, she stopped by Calais, before emerging in the Ecréhous, where she has taken a liking to the shingle bank. “I can’t imagine 

But as delighted as they were about their new neighbour, Ecréhous residents and BDMLR Area Coordinator Donna De Gruchy are now concerned that Barbara is “worryingly close to people and boats at the reef.”

Pictured: Barbara's favourite spot is the shingle bank.

“I can’t stress enough how vulnerable this little seal is. She is unfortunately not to bothered by human interference which is not normal. Not only could she be open to constant interference from her seal routine, which would have a detrimental effect on her overall health, she is also vulnerable to boat propellers,” she told Express.

She warned that a “similar” seal to Barbara had suffered last year as a result of a boat getting too close. “After letting its guard down to often around boats, the skipper thought she had gone and when he put the boat in reverse she was right there,” Donna recalled of the heartbreaking turn of events.

Grey seals are protected by the Jersey Wildlife Law and a code of conduct regulating interactions with marine wildlife is already in place, but Donna wants to ensure that this message reaches others.

She has now written to the Fisheries Department, which issues licenses to commercial ribs, to help warn all sea vessel owners and passengers not to approach the seal.

Jersey Seafaris added to those calls with a message on their Facebook page, stating: “She does seem very friendly and used to humans and boats but it’s best to give her space.”

Donna added that the local residents were also “watching very closely that the seal is not disturbed.”

“Let’s all enjoy her from a distance and remember she is a wild animal that can cause serious harm if she were spooked.”