In Autumn 2024, London Array colleagues hosted the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) to carry out its annual survey of seals on both the Kentish Knock and Long Sands sandbanks, both located within the wind farm area. Two species of seal are resident in the UK, both of which are found in the Greater Thames Estuary – the harbour (or common) seal and the grey seal.
Our operations team provided a vessel to the ZSL team who have been undertaking an annual survey of the harbour and grey seal populations in the River Thames since 2013. Only seals on the sandbanks are recorded – those in the water are disregarded for the purposes of the survey. The survey is strategically conducted within a two-hour window on either side of low tide when the sandbanks are exposed, offering an ideal setting for observing the seals as they rest. It’s important to note that only seals resting on the sandbanks are recorded, while those in the water are excluded from the count.
Almost 600 harbour and 3,000 grey seals now call the Thames Estuary home, according to the 2024 survey.