Operation Seabird on Yorkshire Coast 'successful' so far
The campaign was re-launched back in April this year
The re-launch of Operation Seabird on the Yorkshire Coast this year has been successful so far.
It is a joint-partnership campaign to raise awareness about showing respect to marine wildlife and to tackle disturbances.
People are being asked to take pictures or watch the animals from a safe distance and do not get too close.
Geoff Edmond is from Scarborough and he is the RSPCA's national wildlife co-ordinator. He said: "Collectively we can work together to engage and embrace with the people that are enjoying using the sea to make sure the wildlife isn't disturbed, and just have a chat about what's going on and how they can really help just by keeping a safe distance really from all of our wildlife like seals, the wonderful dolphins we see off the Yorkshire Coast, the many seabirds at Bempton and Flamborough.
"It's really great to see watercraft users and the people on our beaches wanting to engage and really care about our wildlife which is so important but equally, bring the enforcement agencies to develop good practice to develop accountability. It's gaining success and that's really what we'd want to see.
"I think what's really good is that people going on a paddleboat, jetski, maybe out of a boat, taking a walk and taking their dogs under control around seals, actually want to talk. I think what we really have to do and what the spirit of Operation Seabird was was to create greater understanding so we can provide understanding to people.
"It's a bit early yet to say statistically what difference it's made but anecdotally, everyone's saying it's made a difference and they're seeing less disturbance and I think that's down to grateful thanks to people listening to what we're saying; enjoy it, keep a safe distance, keep 100m away and take your photographs from a distance.
"Just enjoy watching them rather than getting too close and disturbing them. I think we all love to see them. I was down at Marine Drive in Scarborough recently watching the bottlenose dolphins and seeing people really enjoying witnessing them from walking around Marine Drive. It's a wonderful place to be and a wonderful place to live so let's look after it."