island,

[mardenq]

may have already been posted but this lot are now putting vids up of lads fishing the island

https://www.facebook.com/stmaryssealwatch

[topbanana]

A step to far recording folk particularly when they're doing nothing wrong.

[kayos]

A step to far recording folk particularly when they're doing nothing wrong.

Absolutely! They will lose a lot of goodwill by their actions, I think the "power" is going to their heads.

A few seals having their "rest disturbed"- really important in the overall scheme of things - not!

[topbanana]

Absolutely! They will lose a lot of goodwill by their actions, I think the "power" is going to their heads.

A few seals having their "rest disturbed!"- really important in the overall scheme of things - not!

The best part is kayos, they make a killing each summer chugging by with boat loads of people at seahouses lol. Why aren't they there flying the flag

[kayos]

The best part is kayos, they make a killing each summer chugging by with boat loads of people at seahouses lol. Why aren't they there flying the flag

Aye and I bet they don't keep their boat 50m from the seals in the water!!

[Holl5080]

Reading through what they have put up it is clear that they are typical of most pressure groups. They are completely blinkered by their own agenda and are completely disinterested in any other parties opinion. The best way to deal with these people is not to engage with them and thus give no credibility to their cause. Just ignore them if you encounter them and be polite but firm. I think the worst thing we could do as a group is to argue with them as it just gives them ammunition to use against us by saying that we are ignorant and hostile.

The simple facts of the matter are that there are no rules/bye laws or laws in place to protect these animals and common sense is all that applies. All their talk of disturbance and distress is not actually based on any empirical scientific evidence and so frankly is worthless opinion. I'm sure no one here wishes to get that close to a seal anyway as they are viscous creatures.

[dabcatcher]

we fished down near hull last weekend. a seal pup swam up between our lines, straight onto the beach next to the rodrest and settled down next to the lads boxes.

were we to run away giving it space?

as long as we respect them, dont bother them they will be ok. most will move just because your within 100yds of them anyway. if they do move off they wont go far as most will watch what your doing.

[Philthebag]

Them making such a fuss off people going close to them will cause more problems, you will then get s hate relationship between anglers and seals, which will cause more damage. If i am going fishing, i am going fishing i wont hurt the seals but certainly wont be giving them 50m room thats mental

[mardenq]

ive told them if they take any pics or vids of me and post them on there site calling me,ill report them,a few others are saying the same and one lad is already doing it

[kayos]

"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."

Never a truer word spoken about these ill informed volunteers. Just read their self important, self indulgent posts on their Facebook page. They will clearly have a detrimental effect on the seal population in the long run, by alienating other law abiding users of the sea and seashore - the exact opposite from their stated aims.

Groups like this should not be funded from the public purse as it gives them delusions of grandeur and their unscientific mumbo jumbo should be challenged at every opportunity.

This lot really rip my knitting and I don't even live there, or fish there when I am down!

[fishingmark]

I quite like seals. Ill informed zealots I do not.

[sam harris]

Island

I spoke to North Tyneside Council yesterday. This is their reply ...


Sam – please see the statement below- Jeanette


A spokesperson for North Tyneside Council said: “St Mary’s Island is a public space which we want to ensure as many people as possible enjoy. Neither individuals or organisations require specific authority from the council to visit the island.


“This year we are experiencing more seals than usual on the island – around 20 per day.



“Seal Watch is an independent group of volunteers who are monitoring the number of seals and are providing informal advice to the public about not disturbing them.


“The seals are an important part of the attraction of the island and the coastline and we are keen that these are protected to ensure that can happen.



“Should anyone have any complaints about inappropriate behaviour, then that is a matter for Northumbria Police.”-




Jeanette Hedley
Senior Manager, Communications and Engagement

North Tyneside Council
Tel: (0191) 643 5077 Mob: 07968 380 314

[mardenq]

I spoke to North Tyneside Council yesterday. This is their reply ...


Sam – please see the statement below- Jeanette


A spokesperson for North Tyneside Council said: “St Mary’s Island is a public space which we want to ensure as many people as possible enjoy. Neither individuals or organisations require specific authority from the council to visit the island.


“This year we are experiencing more seals than usual on the island – around 20 per day.



“Seal Watch is an independent group of volunteers who are monitoring the number of seals and are providing informal advice to the public about not disturbing them.


“The seals are an important part of the attraction of the island and the coastline and we are keen that these are protected to ensure that can happen.



“Should anyone have any complaints about inappropriate behaviour, then that is a matter for Northumbria Police.”-




Jeanette Hedley
Senior Manager, Communications and Engagement

North Tyneside Council
Tel: (0191) 643 5077 Mob: 07968 380 314

thanks for posting this
would fishing on the island be classed as inappropriate behaviour ?
would taking pictures /video,s of people then posting them on there facebook page calling them for fishing , be inappropriate behaviour

[Charlton]

just watched both videos, first one shows seals heading out to sea, they do this quite often, they claim someone was scaring them, no sign of that person in the video, how close was the person taking the video?. Second, shows evidence seals aren't scared, video shows two anglers walking past the seals who didn't take much notice, one even looked to see where seals where, probably a bit worried. Have seen evidence gathered this way before. If anyone is on face book they should post some of these replies, not joining face ache just to argue with those blinkered persons who think they are proving something they are not.

[Charlton]

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.