island,

[D.D.]

just watched vid again to check something, if someone was walking around the base of the lighthouse was supposedly the one scaring the seals, well from where the seals where they couldn't see the bottom of the lighthouse never mind a person walking round, those seals where just juveniles having some fun.
Looked at some of the seal photos on the site, they all looked relaxed even when a diver was walking past, again they are just seeing something that isn't there and if push came to shove and they showed the vids and photos at a meeting they would be laughed at
Thanks for posting that Sam, was going to get onto them myself.
As a bit of a photographer myself if you are taking photos of individuals or a couple of people you have to ask permission.

there deluded idiots alan, some of the photos on their site are close ups and well within the 50 meters they recommend..
they even slate the RNLI for doing there training exercises and if you read through the comments from the members they would like to ban people altogether and make the island a wildlife sanctuary with guided tours for the seal huggers.....

[dt1]

Was out in yak Tue late morning , a seal followed me out as I passed him off Blyth beach , everytime I moved he would re-appear with a grunt/snort needed to change me underwear when I got home Don't think he knew about the 50 mt rule .........Dave.

[mardenq]

as said on another facebook page,people not happy with the way they are going about things (posting pics and vids ) should go onto there page and report them

[sam harris]

Island.

I have contacted the police to get the legal side about these morons taking photographs and videos without permission. I will post it on here as soon as I have an answer.

[mardenq]

I have contacted the police to get the legal side about these morons taking photographs and videos without permission. I will post it on here as soon as I have an answer.

thanks for taking the time to do this

[james89]

I took my family today. My dad got told off for going too close the whole island is covered in signs and photos. The woman who told us off was definitely on a power trip!

[sam harris]

Island

After speaking to the Police, I am told that it is not an offence to photograph or video anyone. BUT … if you see someone doing this to you, ask them for their name and address – the reason they are doing it – what they plan to do with the photographs or videos. Warn them that, if they display these on a public website, i.e. Facebook, or any other public places, etc., you will speak to a Solicitor and bring a Civil Action Case of Invasion Of Privacy against them.

If they continue to photograph or video, tell them that your next step is to call the Police. Try not get into a heated discussion with these idiots. Remain calm and keep your voice quiet. Believe me this will upset them more than ranting and raving.

Remind them – very quietly – that they are an UNOFFICIAL and SELF APPOINTED body of do-gooders with no legal rights whatsoever to stop anyone enjoying the facilities of St. Mary’s Island.

[spongebob]

Nice one Sam mind you if they have a pop at me they better put the 50 metre rule in force around me or they will be the ones running for the water cheeky sods

[mardenq]

After speaking to the Police, I am told that it is not an offence to photograph or video anyone. BUT … if you see someone doing this to you, ask them for their name and address – the reason they are doing it – what they plan to do with the photographs or videos. Warn them that, if they display these on a public website, i.e. Facebook, or any other public places, etc., you will speak to a Solicitor and bring a Civil Action Case of Invasion Of Privacy against them.

If they continue to photograph or video, tell them that your next step is to call the Police. Try not get into a heated discussion with these idiots. Remain calm and keep your voice quiet. Believe me this will upset them more than ranting and raving.

Remind them – very quietly – that they are an UNOFFICIAL and SELF APPOINTED body of do-gooders with no legal rights whatsoever to stop anyone enjoying the facilities of St. Mary’s Island.

is it ok to post this on there site where they have put the video up ?

[Charlton]

Nice one Sam mind you if they have a pop at me they better put the 50 metre rule in force around me or they will be the ones running for the water cheeky sods

although I feel the same way as sick of dealing with people like these but not the done thing old chap, you would get into trouble.

[Stores]

I know I haven't posted for ages (if you've nothing to say, say nothing) but here's a conspiracy theory you may or may not want to buy into:

- there were a number of meetings in February and March regarding the MCZ between St Marys and Coquet. I've heard nothing from those meetings so can't comment on the reaction of the RSA but I suspect we would be under represented.

- Les (loopy) announced that the outcome of these consultations would be published by the end of this year (not far away!).

- today (Bank Holiday Monday) and tomorrow sees the North Sea week, on St Marys supported by the following groups:

NIFCA

I can't see us putting our collective heads above the parapet, can you?

So, if I was one of them ...either a diver or a seal watcher or a bird watcher or a whale protector, I would be looking for any opportunity to forward my case at the expense of any non believer (that's us and, to some extent, Joe Public who are also seen as a nuisance). What better way than to take to defending the sad eyed seal, everyone's favourite, and then cast the angler as the bad guy for disturbing their natural habitat and ruining their courtships et al.

Personally I've never seen a seal on land at St Marys (plenty in the water) so this is a recent phenomena but if we get all the bad press you can forget the reality which is that everything runs away from us - birds, crabs and seals but divers dive with them, on the Farnes they're a tourist attraction and at Eyemouth there's a stall selling food to feed them. When DEFRA have to make a decision regarding the access and restrictions in the MCZ they will be mindful of the fuss made on St Marys and, perhaps, the apathy of the RSA in the procedure.

Perhaps those fussy seal huggers on the Island ain't as daft as we think. Perhaps their high profile moaning will carry more umph than our low profile head in the sand approach.

[g-force]

The more I hear about this bunch, the more their actions seem to me to be tantamount to being a pubIic nuisance. I'm pretty sure if they were to go about accosting peopIe Ieft, right and centre in a pubIic pIace - say, your IocaI high-street - that a few peopIe might have a word with a nearby poIice officer and they'd be fairIy quickIy moved aIong. The fact that they're doing it in another pubIic pIace - St Mary's IsIand - where they are purporting to act with some "authority", might give most members of the pubIic the impression that they are empowered in some way. NonetheIess, their actions are stiII (as far as I'm concerned) nothing but a pubIic nuisance - I think everyone approached by any of these (and I wouIdn't even go so far as to caII them "do-gooders"...just bIinkered to their own agenda) shouId pIace a caII to 101 and report them as such. I'm pretty sure that aIthough the first few caIIs might be met with a bit of scepticism, if the caIIs mount up then we might get a reaction from the authorities.

Gary

[Holl5080]

I agree with Gary. Enough calls to 101 will pretty much force a response of some kind from the police. It may also knock the wind out of their sails! I pretty much stopped fishing here due to the ridiculously quick responding traffic wardens and dogging, now there's another reason (not that this behavolour should in anyway discourage or stop people fishing here)

[Cod,cod,cod!]

Just another thing. If yr going to go fishing down there take plenty of loose change. It's 1.20 an hour now!!!

[shaun]

The more I hear about this bunch, the more their actions seem to me to be tantamount to being a pubIic nuisance. I'm pretty sure if they were to go about accosting peopIe Ieft, right and centre in a pubIic pIace - say, your IocaI high-street - that a few peopIe might have a word with a nearby poIice officer and they'd be fairIy quickIy moved aIong. The fact that they're doing it in another pubIic pIace - St Mary's IsIand - where they are purporting to act with some "authority", might give most members of the pubIic the impression that they are empowered in some way. NonetheIess, their actions are stiII (as far as I'm concerned) nothing but a pubIic nuisance - I think everyone approached by any of these (and I wouIdn't even go so far as to caII them "do-gooders"...just bIinkered to their own agenda) shouId pIace a caII to 101 and report them as such. I'm pretty sure that aIthough the first few caIIs might be met with a bit of scepticism, if the caIIs mount up then we might get a reaction from the authorities.

Gary

Lost your "L" key Gary?