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Out of this world: safe encounters with marine megafauna

An Atlantic grey seal in dark blue water.

Out of this world: safe encounters with marine megafauna

Photo: Shutterstock

Friday 13 February 2026

It's been a long day. You're tired, hungry and just want to put your feet up. As you slide your key into the lock, a spaceship appears and hovers above you. Then another and another.

Heart racing, you drop your key. That's when you notice the group of extra-terrestrials standing behind you. You finally get the door open but they follow you; try to stroke your hair. And they're loud; so loud you can't think straight. This goes on for hours.

For marine life around our coasts, this is what the wrong kind of attention can feel like. Encounters we remember as some of the best of our lives can be the worst for the animals we photograph and enjoy.

Surrounded by the supernatural

There are over 30 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises recorded around the UK and Ireland – over a quarter of those found worldwide. Our waters are also home to a third of the world's grey seal population and the second largest fish in the world: the basking shark. The privilege of being surrounded by such spectacular diversity comes with responsibility.

Dan Jarvis, Welfare Development and Field Support Officer at British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), knows what it's like to pick up the pieces when interactions go wrong.

'We ask marine and coastal users to stop and think about how their actions might impact the animals, and make simple alterations to their behaviour,' Dan says, 'because the animals may end up having a very negative experience and probably not for the first time that day.'

We come in peace

'The most important thing at the start of any encounter is to slow down and assess the situation,' says Pippa Garrard, Education Manager with the Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust and trainer with the Wildlife Safe Scheme (WiSe). Remember they are wild animals and can behave unpredictably, particularly if feeling threatened.

'Are they feeding? Are there young ones? Are they resting? The more you know, the better you'll be able to avoid harm and have a safe encounter.

'Always allow the animals to be in control,' she adds. 'If they choose not to interact, or choose to depart, this should be respected.'

'A Guide to Best Practice for Watching Marine Life, Nature Scotland, advises we always be predictable to avoid causing surprise. Slow down to less than 6 knots when wildlife is in the area, keeping your movements steady and predictable. Watch from an oblique angle – which is less threatening – and don't approach closer than 100m.

'The Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code advises that we let animals decide how close they want us to be and that we never chase them, cut across their path, or pass through a group. 'Some animals – the elderly, calves, pups – are less manoeuvrable and collisions can occur.

'Be particularly careful not to interfere with mothers and their young and never separate them.

'Don't crowd animals. If there's another vessel nearby, try to stay on the same side, so you don’t encircle them or make them feel trapped. WiSe recommends that three boats is too many. When they move away, let them.

'Minimise your time with the animals. This allows others to watch as well, while reducing the total amount of watching pressure. A good rule of thumb is a maximum of 15 minutes.

Learn and look out for signs of agitation or stress, and depart slowly and carefully if you observe them. When re-engaging an engine, remember to have a good look around.

'And finally: touching, feeding and swimming with marine megafauna is not recommended.'

A dolphin jumping out of smooth, blue water. — The noise of boats can disrupt cetacean communication.

Cetaceans

Sound and echolocation are the primary senses used by cetaceans to interpret their environment. The noise and presence of boats can disrupt communication – making them move more, rest and feed less and nurse their calves less. It can separate calves from mothers and there is always a risk of collision – and injury or death – from propellers.

Speed increases noise and the likelihood of collisions, the severity of injury to the animals, and the danger to boat users. However, if you’re approached by dolphins wanting to bow ride, maintain a steady speed and course, remain vigilant and let them break off the engagement when they choose. If you need to disengage, reduce your speed slowly and they'll lose interest.

Don't go too close. A Guide to Best Practice for Watching Marine Wildlife, Nature Scotland, states accepted approach distances as 100m for dolphins, porpoises and whales, 200–400m for mothers and calves, or for animals actively feeding or in transit (moderate to fast swimming in a single direction).

A basking shark under the water, in a deep blue sea. — Look out for basking sharks – and keep well clear.

Basking sharks

Because basking sharks don't breed until they’re around 20 years old, are slow-moving and are often unaware of other water users – especially when feeding – they're particularly vulnerable.

Baskers often aggregate at the surface for feeding and reproduction; if you see one, there will likely be others nearby. When displaying social or courtship behaviour – swimming nose-to-tail, touching each other – A Guide to Best Practice for Watching Marine Wildlife advises a minimum distance of 500m, as disruption can affect reproductive success.

Weighing up to 7 tonnes, collisions can result in serious injury to both parties. Users of personal watercraft (known as 'jet skis'), rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) and fast powerboats should be particularly vigilant. Sudden movements of the tail may indicate they're about to breach. For your own safety, keep your vessel clear.

If a basking shark dives or ceases to feed (closes its mouth), your vessel is too close and you should move away.

Seals

Seals come ashore to pup, moult and rest. Grey and common nursing pups have only 3 weeks to achieve a necessary level of body fat before their mothers leave. During this time, they're often left alone while their mother forages. If disturbed or distressed, they may move to a new location putting them at risk of starvation.

Seals are particularly sensitive to dogs – even dogs on a lead. They're surprisingly fast on land and may bite if they feel threatened. Startled seals can stampede, which may injure both adults and pups. When one or two heads look up, you're too close.

At sea, seals can get spooked by kayaks and paddleboards as their shape mirrors that of a predator and, like predators, they're quiet.

If you're concerned about a seal's welfare, contact BDMLR on 01825 765546 (UK) or Seal Rescue Ireland on 087 195 5393.

Mythbusters

If a whale is breaching, they are putting on a show

Whales may breach and lunge for many reasons. The most common reasons are considered to be to communicate through the slapping, and to dislodge parasites, skin and barnacles.

If a seal's looking at us, it’s because they’re curious

If a seal is looking at us (when on land or in the water) they are aware of our presence and their fight or flight response has been activated. Remain quiet and back off to avoid them moving away. Seals can injure themselves if we scare them into the sea.

Two orcas swim through a grey sea. — It's a privilege to encounter a whale.

Back to earth

There are both laws and voluntary codes of conduct in place to ensure every encounter is safe and enjoyable for us and comfortable for our wildlife.

The law

UK and European law protects whales, dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks against disruption of vital breeding and feeding patterns – whether caused intentionally or recklessly.

Intentional injury and harassment are clearly problematic but disturbance – an action with people that changes the animal's behaviour, that could affect their wellbeing or change the animal's environment – can be less obvious. For example, boat owners can be prosecuted if they disrupt vital breeding and feeding patterns.

Codes of conduct

While voluntary codes of conduct vary slightly in the different countries of the UK and in Ireland, they broadly share the same themes: to minimise disturbance to marine wildlife, to help you enjoy watching marine wildlife and stay within the law, and to provide a standard for the wildlife watching industry.

There are several organisations working to protect our incredible marine wildlife. Many publish codes of conduct that are species or craft specific. These include:

The WiSe Scheme offers a training course for wildlife cruise operators, dive and service boats, yacht skippers and sea kayakers, plus people participating in coasteering, stand-up paddleboarding and wild swimming.