Has Keith the seal's popularity taken a dive?

7:30am Thursday 17th January 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Becky Carr

Wanted: Keith the seal. Picture: GARY MAYNER. Wanted: Keith the seal. Picture: GARY MAYNER.

THE tide appears to be turning for celebrity seal Keith with anglers calling for the wayward animal to be shot as a drastic last resort if it cannot be removed from the river at Bewdley any other way.

The Angling Trust has written to a number of organisations, including the Environment Agency, demanding the seal be relocated to protect fish stocks.

If nothing can be done to remove or deter the seal, the trust claims it will be forced to secure a licence to shoot it using a qualified marksman.

It is also concerned that the seal is endangering the future of angling in the town, which it says is an important source of income for businesses.

In a statement on the trust’s website, chief executive Mark Lloyd said: “We think that the Environment Agency or Natural England should have taken action before now to protect vulnerable fish stocks in the River Severn but, as they have not, we have responded to anglers’ concerns by investing our members’ donations and subcriptions to find a number of potential solutions.

“This marine predator cannot be allowed to carry on eating its way through freshwater fish that have taken decades to grow to a size.

“We will try everything possible to remove it humanely but more drastic action may be the only option if these methods do not work.”

The trust claims it has contacted the Environment Agency, which declined its request, the British Divers Marine Life Rescue organisation, which said it would be too difficult to capture the animal safely and the company Aquatec, which provides seal scarers that emit a high-pitched noise to deter them.

The Environment Agency (EA) and RSPCA said they would not take action as the seal would naturally make its way back to the sea.

An EA spokesman said: “We are aware of the seal at Bewdley and understand the concerns of salmon and coarse fisheries and anglers.

“However, one animal on a large river like the Severn is unlikely to have a significant impact on fish stocks.

“This is ‘natural predation’ and it will eventually make its own way back out to sea. With this is mind, and also because seals are a protected species, we won’t be taking any action.”

A RSPCA spokesman said: “It's not uncommon for seals to venture up rivers away from the sea. As long as the seal is not injured or in any immediate danger then we would not be concerned for its welfare.

“The main diet of grey seals is fish, however they are opportunistic feeders and therefore they may occasionally kill and eat a small waterbird if the opportunity arose.

“We would recommend that people watch from a distance and enjoy the opportunity to see a seal in the area before it makes its own way back to the sea.”

Residents, visitors and anglers in Bewdley have also expressed their concerns after seeing the seal attack and eat two ducks last Sunday.

Stuart Anderson, of Bewdley, a member of the Pike Anglers Club of Great Britain, said: “This seal is a foreign animal in an eco-system that does not support it.

“I am very worried as it now has started taking ducks and waterfowl and soon will start attacking swans and maybe dogs swimming. It could more seriously attack a child, if cornered, as they are very territorial.”

Bewdley resident Gary Mayner snapped a photo of Keith with a duck in its mouth last Sunday.

He said: “Like everybody else at first I thought that it was nice to see a seal but the more I thought about it, having just witnessed it killing then eating a duck, it’s not quite right having it here.”

The Wyre Forest Study Group has been tracking the seal’s progress up the river.

Group co-ordinator Rosemary Winnall, of Bewdley, said: “I haven’t discovered any records of seals this far up the river before. It’s a very difficult issue.

“The seal seems to be getting so excited about all the food and is eating the high protein parts and discarding them. It would be better to go back to the sea but what can be done about it?”

Comments(52)

outragedlocal says...
9:06am Thu 17 Jan 13

What is wrong with the angling trust??
The anglers offend many walkers and cyclists and there is no call for them to be shot by a qualified marksmen!!
This is absolutely appalling!! anglers catch fish for fun, Keith catches them to survive!! leave Keith alone!!

Report this post »

outragedlocal says...
9:06am Thu 17 Jan 13

What is wrong with the angling trust??
The anglers offend many walkers and cyclists and there is no call for them to be shot by a qualified marksmen!!
This is absolutely appalling!! anglers catch fish for fun, Keith catches them to survive!! leave Keith alone!!

Report this post »

justathort says...
9:27am Thu 17 Jan 13

"It could more seriously attack a child, if cornered, as they are very territorial."

???

How would it do this? Would the child be swimming in the river like the dogs?

Or would it come out of the river and amble along the street???

Report this post »

tolstar says...
9:34am Thu 17 Jan 13

One seal, yes one seal and anglers want it shot, just says something about anglers doesn't it? What percentage of fish do they think one seal is taking out of the river? He needs the fish to survive, do anglers need the fish to survive? And, by the way, a seals diet consists of fish, not birds or dogs, so no scaremongering please. Exactly how much is this seal actually contributing to the tourism industry of the area at the moment? A hell of a lot more than angling is at this time of the year. Finally, to rest the minds of the greater percentage of the public who have lost the stone age gene for hunting, there is no chance whatsoever of a licence being granted to shoot it.

Report this post »

Aguila Pescadora says...
9:47am Thu 17 Jan 13

Anglers need to get their own act in order. They are forever leaving behind lines and floats that swans and other birds get tangled in. I fully support the seal. Anglers need to get a life.

Report this post »

Aw8093 says...
10:03am Thu 17 Jan 13

My god this artical made me cross... This is one of the nicest things to happen around here in a long time and you want to kill it....!!!!! That small animal could not kill an eat enough fish to ruine fishing in the severn.... An as for killing a duck do we not think that is just nature.... We kill animals to eat them it's the way the world goes round. an this is coming from people who kill fish for fun :) Long live kieth

Report this post »

Aw8093 says...
10:03am Thu 17 Jan 13

Or keith :)

Report this post »

strawberryscented says...
10:11am Thu 17 Jan 13

No support here for you dear anglers, so kindly do one.

if anything should happen to keith, we know exactly who to blame. I hope the RSPCA can take up this case against them.

Report this post »

Wills. says...
10:41am Thu 17 Jan 13

I agree.Leave the seal alone! Some irresponsible anglers leave fishing line that traps and kills waterbirds.I`ve seen this myself.What if it takes an occasional duck?It has to eat.Bewdley will probably have a few more tourists who will come to see Keith!

Report this post »

Respectable says...
10:47am Thu 17 Jan 13

Rank Fishy Breath and whiskers... Yup that sums up most of the Anglers..
Long Live Keith.

Perhaps we should shoot stuff at the anglers every time one of them pulls a fish out of the water....FOR PLEASURE.

Report this post »

tolstar says...
10:53am Thu 17 Jan 13

Well, shot yourself in the foot over this one haven't you Angling Trust?

Report this post »

racerroy says...
10:59am Thu 17 Jan 13

I don't see how one Seal on the longest River in Britain is going to harm the fish stock
.
Compare this to the stress/suffering that is caused by anglers when catching fish for sport and they have no defence.

Now if Keith got into a Trout breeding pool then there would be a justified reason for his removal.

I strongly object to the suggestion that this wild animal be removed by shooting.

Maybe if someone told him not far away is a sanctuary where he would be feed and well cared for he might take up residence (The Safari Park)

Report this post »

FranOb says...
12:26pm Thu 17 Jan 13

A beautiful wild creature has come into our district and is giving joy to visitors and locals alike and now some spiteful, petty, small minded anglers whose own hobby offends many people now seek the destruction of this beautiful visitor!
How dare they!

Report this post »

iain543 says...
1:10pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Keith now has a FACEBOOK PAGE.....save keith the seal.........everyon
e join and like the page...

Report this post »

ammyw79 says...
2:37pm Thu 17 Jan 13

“I am very worried as it now has started taking ducks and waterfowl and soon will start attacking swans and maybe dogs swimming. It could more seriously attack a child, if cornered, as they are very territorial.”

Unbelievable, thats right scare people with stupid stories so the seal gets shot. If that fails, next weeks headlines will be "Benefit claiming Seal responsible for drug problems in town". Save keith the seal I say. He is killing fish to eat and I'm sure there is plenty for all, why do the anglers have any more rights.

Report this post »

Cynical Sid says...
3:17pm Thu 17 Jan 13

iain543 wrote:
Keith now has a FACEBOOK PAGE.....save keith the seal.........everyon

e join and like the page...
http://www.facebook.
com/SaveKeithTheSeal

Report this post »

Thirtysomethin says...
3:57pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Oh you poor, poor anglers. Is that big nasty seal eating all YOUR fish?
I can't seem to understand why they think they have a right to shoot wildlife because it's interfering with their "sport".

Report this post »

1downsie says...
4:56pm Thu 17 Jan 13

If you haven't been to see Keith you must go and see him. It is an amazing sight to see such a beautiful creature in the River Severn. This should be a good thing for Bewdley why should some small minded anglers think they should decide whether Keith stays or not? Keith lives in water do they? They catch fish for sport she is catching fish to survive and how can they think one seal is going to eat the fish stock of a huge river? She will bring visitors into Bewdley and should be welcomed with open arms.

Report this post »

1downsie says...
4:58pm Thu 17 Jan 13

sorry Keith "her".

Report this post »

sparky37 says...
5:24pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Keith must be a better fish man than the rest of the Angers Trust.
It must be jealousy.
long live Keith...

Report this post »

anonnail says...
5:45pm Thu 17 Jan 13

hi would love to help,, the seal should be helped along his way back to the big old blue,, take to twitter please and use hash tags #opsavekeith #bewdley

Report this post »

Bewdlay says...
5:53pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Remove it humanely ! What by sticking a hook through its mouth & yanking it through the water and then leaving it out to die a slow death.
The kind caring Bewdley anglers that leave litter including hooks & line that has caused 2 vet visits for my dog , shout abuse & throw objects at passing rowers, play loud music while enjoying the peace of the river want to sort the naughty seal problem and save the regions eco system with a gun. Ignore the experts. Poor Keith public opinion has really turned against you.

Report this post »

stotch says...
6:29pm Thu 17 Jan 13

I am hoping that the Shuttle report has been printed on the front page to elicit the exact responses that are being shown here. The shuttle should take it one more step and set up a local poll or petition to gauge just how strong the public support is in favour of Keith. The people quoted have the worst of human responses of if something upsets or threatens their own little worlds they kill it. Maybe the people who quoted in the article would like to go to local schools and inform the children the fate they feel Keith deserves. Lets hope, that if as stated Keith is a protected species that the RSPCA and West Mercia will also warn the various anglers association of the consequences of any action they take. I would hate to think what the overiding public backlash would be for anyone who supports such dire and disgusting actions of killing this animal.

Report this post »

anonnail says...
6:31pm Thu 17 Jan 13

save the seal facebook page has been deleted awell

Report this post »

dinger6479 says...
6:43pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Have fished the river severn all my life and lived on the river for as long i understand as an angler you are there as a visitor and the wildlife that we see when we are there make the sport what it is and its our job as anglers to conserve and protect it for generations to come, the louts that a lot of you talk about are there iv whitnessed it myself and its an embarressment to any self respecting angler as is the crap they leave around iv picked up bagfuls of other peoples litter myself! When i heard of a seal in bewdley the first thing i did was put my 7 yr old son jude in the car and go to see if we could see him as far as im concerned it was brilliant, the anglers trust do not speak for us all! one or even ten seals temporarly occupying a stretch of river does nothing to the eco system and if we were not raping the seas the seals probably wouldnt be there in the first place! welcome and good luck keith!

Report this post »

anonnail says...
6:49pm Thu 17 Jan 13

please like the facebook page its back http://www.facebook.
com/savetheseal

Report this post »

jon cooper says...
8:55pm Thu 17 Jan 13

"If nothing can be done to remove or deter the seal, the trust claims it will be forced to secure a licence to shoot it using a qualified marksman".

We're talking about a seal here who has lost her way up the River Severn, and NOT a criminal !

'The Angling Trust' really should wake up to the fact that the river is a natural habitat for everyone to enjoy, and not just solely for the angling fraternity.

So has Keith the seal's popularity taken a dive ? Judging by the more humane amongst us - certainly not !

Report this post »

emjaypee says...
8:59pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Anglers Trust!!...Anglers Mistrust more like.

Report this post »

lilacpiggy says...
10:04pm Thu 17 Jan 13

leave Keith alone its not like he can pop into the co-op and ask for a pound of fish ,he's got no pockets to keep his change!!!!

Report this post »

labourblogger says...
10:36pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Ironic isn't it Pike Anglers Club complaining the Seal is reducing fish stocks, As if the Pike is not a ferocious predator, a bit like the Anglers who want to shoot a Seal for ruining their sport.

Report this post »

lilacpiggy says...
10:57pm Thu 17 Jan 13

http://www.gopetitio
n.com/petitions/save
-keith-the-seal/sign
atures.html

Report this post »

nikki09 says...
11:16pm Thu 17 Jan 13

How dare could anyone ever suggest in killing an INNOCENT ANIMAL. Keith is doing his thing in the river, not causing any harm to anyone. I think the thought of killing him is absurd.

Report this post »

Withe67 says...
11:21pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Well said dinger6479!

I'm not an angler myself (not for 20 odd years anyway), but I know many who would echo your sentiments.
I think it's important that people don't mistake this as a conservation issue. The stretch of the Severn currently occupied by the Seal isn't a discrete ecosystem. Therefore, in the highly unlikely event that a single predator could drive population declines in given species of fish, logic (and scientific evidence) tells us that as the prey decline, they become harder to acquire. So the predator is faced with the choice to relocate, or starve. Either way, prey populations would then recover; by way of breeding, or immigration.
Regarding Pike: Haven't many "match" waters systematically removed the species, with the intent of boosting numbers of their chosen quarry? This shows the hypocrisy of the Angling Trust bemoaning the fact that Pike have been predated. Would they also have Kingfishers, Otters, and other piscivourous species "controlled" as well?
Sadly, all this is only too familiar to naturalists in the UK. Vested interests routinely persecute native predators (both legally and illegally), damaging ecosystems, and causing untold suffering for their own selfish ends.

http://raptorpolitic
s.org.uk/

Report this post »

Flash-man says...
11:40pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Something has gone very wrong with our society. A seal appears in the river, bringing pleasure to thousands. So a small minority of people decide the seal must die, to preserve their hobby. Apparently the seal is eating too many fish, leaving
not enough for this minority to kill.

The seal is a wild animal. It kills to eat. It isn't vermin, a pest or a nuisance. Its just doing what seals do.

Anglers are 'apparently' grown men who spend a day sat on the river bank trying to outwit a fish.

We all have hobbies and pass times. Some might be a bit odd. But if we aren't causing hurt, suffering or pain, then we should be left alone to pursue them.

To call for the killing of the seal is selfish, cruel and really tells us a lot about anglers. The Angling Trust should be ashamed of itself. Its a disgrace. perhaps we can call for the shooting of anglers, for depleting fish stocks ? Is that reasonable ?

If the seal is killed, I will be ashamed to be a resident of Bewdley. Media across the world will condemn the town. Bewdley will become famous, but for the wrong reasons.

I never really had an opinion on anglers. I do now. I have complete contempt for them.

And as for suggesting that the seal could attack a child........Stuart Anderson is presumably an imbecile, unless he is a high quality 'troll' who has hacked into the report in an attempt to say the most ridiculous, ludicrous and downright idiotic things his small brain can summon. Sadly, I think he is the former. A cruel, selfish and contemptible little man who will say anything to further his cause.

Stuart Anderson; You don't speak for me, or the people of Bewdley. I am ashamed to live in the same town as people like you.

Report this post »

mick63 says...
8:45am Fri 18 Jan 13

I fish, i feed ducks, so lover of all animals, could never support the shooting of a seal though no matter what damage he was causing to a stretch of water, and as for a threat to children i think someone is getting a little confused with Jaws.

Report this post »

Mog Dave says...
9:43am Fri 18 Jan 13

The Angling Trust says that they are a conservation society, but they are only interested in conserving selected fish stocks so that their members can enjoy their sport. To this aim they intend to manage (kill) anything that eats the fish. They also (or try to) bar anyone else from going near to or on rivers, such as rowers, canoeists and swimmers. Strangely enough they also don’t like Beavers, even though they don’t eat fish.
If anything should be culled, it’s the Angling Trusts mindset.

Report this post »

GGmommy says...
10:14am Fri 18 Jan 13

To kill a seal so that people can indulge in a hobby would be criminal, i hope something can be done to ensure that this is not allowed to happen! A river is an open ecoystem, yes it has a natural balance and i have no doubt that a seal will cause a massive change to that ecosystem, but ultimatley the seal is not totally alien to this ecosystem - Keith wont be the first or last seal in a river!
Please do not try and justify your argument by claiming that a seal will kill a child! Will he waddle out of the river to a nearby playground? I would imagine their teeth are sharp enough to produce a nasty bite but then surely people are not silly enough to get that close? and we all know that swans can pack a punch with their bite....shall we shoot them too? No, they are ok because they dont endanger the precious fish stocks for the anglers! Sorry fisherman, take a few weeks break, find a warmer hobby and let Keith be!

Report this post »

bevb says...
12:39pm Fri 18 Jan 13

Is life a little dull for anglers in Kidderminster? Perhaps they should head up to Scotland where they shoot seals that threaten salmon farms...or visit Namibia, where 80,000 seal pups are bludgeoned to death every year? They might have more fun.

And well done to the Environment Agency, British Divers Marine Life Rescue, and the RSPCA for treating the anglers' request with the contempt it deserves.

Report this post »

tolstar says...
12:39pm Fri 18 Jan 13

Please, I can reassure everyone 100% that there is no way a licence will be issued for her to be shot.

Report this post »

LisaVentura says...
1:52pm Fri 18 Jan 13

I have spoken to Andy Ottaway from the Seal Action Protection Group – www.sealaction.org – and this is our response:

Seals are a protected species so if the Angling Trust are serious about harming Keith it will be disastrous for the image of Bewdley both economically and through loss of reputation. There is no justification for this kind of action – how humane is it that anglers catch fish and then throw them back into the river?

A licence must be obtained before any action can be taken and it is extremely difficult for this kind of licence to go through. If businesses in Bewdley think that one seal who eats roughly 25lbs of a fish a day (equivalent to approximately 5 fish a day) is a threat to their livelihoods then they should consider the even bigger impact that it will have on their businesses f something happens to Keith or someone takes the law into their own hands and harms her as this will really put Bewdley and Worcestershire on the map if Keith is harmed in this way.

Report this post »

LisaVentura says...
2:06pm Fri 18 Jan 13

The Angling Trust is off their head
It seems they want Keith dead
What a bunch of morons they are
Do they think their request will go far?

They are idiots of the first degree
They are as selfish as selfish can be
I’m outraged to think they have the right
To shoot Keith and banish her out of sight

Please sign the petition, give Keith your support
She’s done nothing wrong apart from caught
A few fish to satisfy her hunger and eat
She deserves to have a bit of meat

So to all you anglers who think Keith’s a threat
Stick your request up your a**s, and please let
This lovely seal stay, live and let live
She has such a lot of pleasure to give

Report this post »

dougoutcanoe says...
2:33pm Fri 18 Jan 13

The Angling Trust are set in the Victorian Estates attitudes that still tarnish our countryside.
They are fighting to stop anything that in their simple minds may disturb fish.
Currently they are trying to cull cormorants, goosanders, otters and no doubt many other natural predators.
They also want to stop canoeing and kayaking on our rivers.
For a small organisation they make a lot of noise, sadly they have friends in high places eg. R. Benyon MP DEFRA, he supports them and their policies.

Report this post »

riverlover1 says...
3:42pm Fri 18 Jan 13

The Angling Trust's antics are very familiar to canoeists and wild swimmers. They make the most preposterous claims about the environmental effect of paddling or swimming in the river. The sad thing is that are backed by rich land owners whose fantasies of their entitlement to rule the countryside comes straight from Downton Abbey. Angling Trust also manages to finagle government grants to subsidize their peculiar agenda. The last vestiges of the Feudal system are personified by this strange and somewhat sinister group.

Report this post »

Cynical Sid says...
10:16pm Fri 18 Jan 13

http://www.mirror.co
.uk/news/uk-news/kei
th-the-seal-anglers-
want-stranded-154415
0


National News now (sort of)

Report this post »

Cynical Sid says...
10:52pm Fri 18 Jan 13

Amazing what an email does to the nationals eh Shuttle ....

http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/news/article-
2264692/Anglers-dema
nd-Keith-seal-shot-s
wam-Worcester-River-
Severn.html

Report this post »

meegie14 says...
5:24pm Sat 19 Jan 13

What an silly lot bewdley fishermen have made themselves look all this stupidity over a seal.....how dare that poor seal eat the fishies.....who do they think they are!!!!!! if a seal can.t do what comes natural then what is the world coming to? Isn,t there enough going on to be concerned about rather than this poor seal, who needs help not shooting. I would take my grandchildren to see good old Keith without worry of him "attacking" them!!!! would I take them to see the fishermen NO too grumpy>>>>LEAVE KEITH ALONE

Report this post »

SausageUK says...
9:55am Sun 20 Jan 13

I do not normally comment here anymore, but after receiving this news feed I saw this article and it prompted me to comment.

Seals do use rivers; it's not unknown and is perfectly natural.

Anglers do not use rivers as their wild habitat. This is a fact; they only use it for a hobby. I'm appalled that a small minded individual without ANY facts whatsoever deems the seal to be a nuisance and thinks they are in their right to have it shot/moved/scared off.

You have no right, you're a fisherman, it's not your river, it belongs to Mother Nature.

I take objection to your existence, shall I apply to the government for a marksmanship licence to have you shot, or, shall I have you removed to a remote place where you can't bother my enjoyment of Bewdley and the river Severn.

I want to personally thank you though, for bringing such a stupid request publicly, now we can all laugh and joke at your expense for suggesting, what in all honestly, is a very very stupid idea.

Report this post »

harryurz says...
12:28pm Sun 20 Jan 13

From the Angler's Trust website ;
"As previously stated in our press release, the Environment Agency, despite their statutory duty to 'maintain, develop and improve' fisheries in England and Wales and the fact that they have helped with the removal of seals in the past, has declined to act to remove the seal which is devastating a prime river fishery at Bewdley. Now a petition has been started by "friends" of the seal to encourage the Environment Agency to relocate it. As the Angling Trust clearly have that objective in common with the seal's supporters, we urge everybody to sign the petition at http://www.gopetitio
n.com/petitions/save
-keith-the-seal.html
"

Report this post »

skeasley says...
9:36am Mon 21 Jan 13

Have a look at the attached, to see an example of these aggressive territorial animals in action....

http://www.roberthar
ding.com/preview.php
?page=92

Beautiful animals, just trying to survive in an environment that's being slowly taken away.

Report this post »

IB4MAYOR says...
3:39pm Mon 21 Jan 13

I think the anglers need to get a grip! Its great to see wildlife like this around here. I bet there are more fish killed in a year by the stresses of being caught by anglers than by a seal and as for a seal attacking a child ITS A SEAL NOT JAWS. Just shows how un-educated some people are.

Report this post »

Flash-man says...
7:21pm Mon 21 Jan 13

harryurz wrote:
From the Angler's Trust website ;
"As previously stated in our press release, the Environment Agency, despite their statutory duty to 'maintain, develop and improve' fisheries in England and Wales and the fact that they have helped with the removal of seals in the past, has declined to act to remove the seal which is devastating a prime river fishery at Bewdley. Now a petition has been started by "friends" of the seal to encourage the Environment Agency to relocate it. As the Angling Trust clearly have that objective in common with the seal's supporters, we urge everybody to sign the petition at http://www.gopetitio

n.com/petitions/save

-keith-the-seal.html

"
"Devastating a prime river fishery"

What utter nonsense. A vast river like the severn is being devastated by one seal ? How many fish will a Pike kill and eat in a day ?

The Anglers have no reason to protect fish stocks, other than for their own selfish interests. They don't care about fish, seals, or anything except the pursuit of their small minded little hobby, that is frankly incomprehensible to those of us who have a life.

Let the seal do what it likes. It is doing what comes naturally. Its killing to LIVE ! Not killing for fun, for sport or for pleasure. That dubious honour is only held by man.

Report this post »

harryurz says...
10:14pm Mon 21 Jan 13

Ignoring all this vitriol for a moment has anyone noticed frpm the picture that 'Keith' may actually be female ? (as females are grey with a pale underside and have black blotches, while males are uniform dark grey or brown.)
Ok , back to the name calling........

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree