Young seal freed from 30-metre net on Falmouth Beach
A young grey seal was rescued from a massive fishing net on Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth on Thursday afternoon, highlighting the ongoing threat of marine litter to local wildlife.
Distressed calls to the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) hotline prompted an urgent response.
Members of the public had already managed to move the seal, tangled in what is thought to be mid-water trawl gear, across the rocks onto the main beach.
BDMLR volunteer responders, along with two off-duty staff from the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, arrived within minutes.
The team carefully moved the seal and the knotted net further up the beach, away from the fast-incoming tide, to safely cut it free.
The animal, tightly wrapped in netting, required a painstaking rescue.
Once freed, the juvenile seal underwent a thorough health assessment and was found to be in good condition with no serious injuries.
A temporary mark was applied for future identification before the seal was released back into the sea.
The net was later measured at an astonishing 30.7 metres long and weighing 23.5 kilograms – the largest single item of pollution BDMLR has ever removed from a live seal.
The previous record was an 11-metre net rescued near St Ives on almost the same date in 2022.
Lindsey Mcinerney from BDMLR said this:
"The animal being so severely wrapped in it also made it really tricky."
"You're trying to keep the animal safe, make sure you don't cause any additional damage to the animal, also trying to protect your team on site and make sure that no humans end up hurt from an animal that's distressed and in a pretty bad situation. " She told us.
"Of course, also trying to apply first aid and rescue as quickly as possible, because again, we didn't know how entangled the animal was."
While this rescue ended successfully, marine litter, including ghost fishing gear, frisbee rings, and plastic waste, continues to pose a serious threat to seals and other wildlife.
BDMLR urges communities, councils, conservation groups, and the fishing industry to properly dispose of lost or abandoned gear to prevent further harm.
The charity also highlights a petition calling for a ban on frisbee rings, which are increasingly found entangling seals.
People are encouraged to choose solid disc or bio-friendly alternatives.
Public support is vital to keep BDMLR’s rescue teams trained and equipped, ensuring every minute counts when a seal is in danger.
Donations and support can be made here