SMRU Seal Flipper Feasibility Study

Project Aims

The aim of this commission is to undertake a strategic feasibility study assessing the suitability of existing seal telemetry and electronic flipper-tag technologies for supporting future seal monitoring, assessment, and reporting requirements within the UK. The study will review current evidence, technologies, deployment approaches and animal welfare considerations, identify evidence gaps and technical limitations, and evaluate opportunities for future telemetry development. The commission will provide an evidence-based roadmap to support future investment decisions relating to seal telemetry research and technology development.

3. Project Background

The Special Committee on Seals (SCOS) has identified robust estimation of UK seal population size and demographic processes as a high research priority. Current monitoring and assessment approaches rely on telemetry-based estimates of haul-out behaviour to support population estimation, particularly for harbour seals. However, existing telemetry evidence remains limited, and uncertainties persist regarding variation in haul-out behaviour, movement ecology, survival, connectivity and demographic parameters.

At the same time, significant technological developments have occurred in wildlife telemetry and biologging systems. Current technologies vary in deployment duration, data return, cost, attachment methodology and animal welfare implications. Opportunities may exist to develop smaller, lighter and longer-lasting devices capable of collecting higher-quality data while reducing impacts on study animals. There is also increasing interest in deployment approaches suitable for age classes that are currently difficult to study, including grey seal pups.

This study will support strategic planning across SCOS, JNCC, Defra, NatureScot, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales and DAERA by assessing the current state of knowledge and identifying future telemetry development priorities. The outputs will contribute to future monitoring requirements supporting SCOS advice, UK Marine Strategy (UKMS) assessment and OSPAR reporting obligations.

4. Project Objectives

To meet the overall aims of this project (Section 2), the objectives are:

• Review existing evidence from previous seal telemetry and electronic flipper-tag deployments.
• Assess the implications of telemetry-derived information for seal population estimation, monitoring and survey design.
• Review currently available telemetry technologies, deployment methods and associated animal welfare considerations.
• Evaluate opportunities for future telemetry development, including smaller, lighter and longer-lasting devices.
• Assess feasibility of telemetry deployment across currently underrepresented demographic groups, including grey seal pups.
• Undertake expert engagement with researchers, practitioners and technology developers.
• Identify evidence gaps, technical risks, development requirements and indicative costs.
• Produce a prioritised roadmap for future telemetry research and technology development.

5. Project Objectives: Detailed Tasks

The successful contractor will undertake the following tasks:

Task 1. Evidence Review

Undertake a review of existing evidence relating to seal telemetry and electronic flipper-tag deployments, including published and grey literature where appropriate. Assess the contribution of telemetry-derived information to seal population estimation, haul-out correction factors, movement ecology, and demographic analyses.

Task 2. Technology Review

Review currently available seal telemetry and biologging technologies, including attachment methods, transmission systems, battery technologies, data products and deployment longevity. Assess relative advantages, limitations, costs and operational considerations.

Task 3. Animal Welfare Assessment

Review animal welfare considerations associated with existing telemetry deployment approaches, including attachment methods, tag retention, behavioural impacts, injury risks and relevant ethical considerations.

Task 4. Stakeholder Engagement

Conduct interviews and/or consultation activities with relevant experts, researchers and technology developers. Facilitate an online workshop to gather expert opinion on current limitations and future development opportunities.

Task 5. Feasibility Assessment

Assess opportunities and feasibility for improved seal telemetry systems, considering technical requirements, miniaturisation, battery life, deployment practicality, data utility and applicability across different demographic groups including pups.

Task 6. Development Roadmap

Develop an evidence-based roadmap identifying priority development opportunities, indicative costs, risks, technical challenges, timescales, and recommended next steps for future research and development.

6. Outputs

Any products or outputs submitted to JNCC [for publication] should adhere to JNCC's house-style and should be produced in an accessible format (see product specification for more information).

Output 1: Inception Note and Project Workplan.

Output 2: Seal Telemetry and Flipper Tag Development Feasibility Study Report:

This report will include:

Part 1 Review of previous electronic flipper-tag deployments: Assessment of implications for seal population assessment and monitoring and identification of evidence gaps and limitations.

Part 2 Technology Review and Stakeholder Engagement Report including: Review of current telemetry technologies with an assessment of welfare, performance, and practical deployment considerations.

Part 3 Feasibility Assessment and Development Roadmap Report including: Assessment of opportunities for future technology development and a review of feasibility for deployment on underrepresented age classes. Include indicative costs, technical challenges, and development requirements and a prioritised list of recommendations and roadmap.

Appendix: Summary of any stakeholder consultation engagement (online workshop summary).

Output 6: Presentation of findings to JNCC and any relevant project partners.

7. Product Specification

JNCC is committed to making its publicly available resources and documents accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.

Making material accessible means making sure it can be used by as many people as possible. This includes those with:

 impaired vision

 motor difficulties

 cognitive impairments or learning disabilities

 deafness or impaired hearing

The outputs and material that JNCC publishes should be compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.1 AA standard.

To meet this standard, all reports and other documentation which are to be made publicly available must adhere to JNCC's house-style and be produced using a JNCC template (to be provided to the supplier at start up meeting), unless otherwise stated. (Project managers to note - there are two templates, please decide which is most appropriate, either the 'standard' template rather than the JNCC report template). All reports (draft and final) should be provided electronically via email both as a Microsoft Word document and an Adobe PDF.

Copies of documentation associated with case studies should be provided in electronic format with an associated reference catalogue.

For any other outputs or products which are to be made publicly available through JNCC, evidence regarding how the accessibility standard will be reached should be included.

(Note for author if research project/contract: see EQA Policy Appendix 4 (Communicating Evidence Quality). Ensure that data management and storage requirements are stipulated taking into account relevant policy for data access. See jncc.gov.uk/about-jncc/corporate… ↗

8. Dissemination

The products/outputs produced under this contract will be a JNCC product and shall not be published or disseminated without the written permission of JNCC. Outputs may at some point be published on the JNCC website and all material supplied as part of this contract shall remain copyright of JNCC. The findings from this contract will also be made available to staff within JNCC, the UK country nature conservation bodies (name them), Defra and (list other parties)