Members of the public are being urged to avoid a well-loved coastal path due to large numbers of breeding “aggressive” seals.
An estimated 3,000 grey seals have taken over the north beach at the Ythan Estuary on the Forvie National Reserve, near Newburgh.
The seals can easily be seen lounging around or ‘hauling-out’ on Forvie sands and have been a magnet for wildlife lovers wishing to photograph them.
Marine Scotland held a public consultation into declaring the area a designated seal haul-out zone in 2015 and found that there were grounds for considering the application ahead of the five-year review due in 2019.
British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) medic and Ythan seal watch founder, Lee Watson gives up his weekends to patrol the area to provide guidance and information to visitors.
He said: “We are trying to educate the people that come down as to why they shouldn’t disturb the seals, I understand their curiosity, but lots are refusing to read or follow the advice set out by the reserve.
“At the moment we have got some large bulls hauling-out at the moment, they are very large and aggressive and have been causing some significant injuries to other seals at the site.
“We can’t begin to imagine what they could do to a pet or a child if they were to disturb them.
“We would urge people to stay as far away from them as possible and be extra careful when walking dogs; they should be kept on a lead at all times.”
The last official count was done for the consultation document which counted around 1,500, but BDMLR now estimate there to be between 2,500 and 3,000.
Concerns have been raised about the dwindling salmon and sea-trout numbers in the area, Ron Coutts, secretary for the Newburgh Angling Club, said: “The seal numbers are ridiculously high, typically the maximums we have had up until now have been around 1,200 seals. It doesn’t take a very bright person to realise that, even at those levels, they are having an impact on the local environment.
“Over the long term, looking at the measurement of catches, the salmon on the east coast has virtually disappeared; despite the Scottish Government having no netting.
“It’s fantastic for kids to see, but we need to find a balance.”