Angling Trust & Fish Legal Support Successful Seal Relocation in Partnership with Peterborough & District Angling Association

Years of determined work with local volunteers and national agencies delivers a humane, lawful solution to a problem once thought “impossible”.

The Peterborough & District Angling Association (P&DAA), working closely with the Angling Trust and Fish Legal has successfully secured the safe capture and relocation of seals from the freshwater River Nene near Peterborough – a breakthrough many believed could not be achieved.

For years, seals released by the RSPCA into the tidal Nene had swum upriver, taking up residence in valuable angling waters and severely impacting barbel, bream and other coarse fish at iconic venues in the region.

The tenacity and passion of the club, working alongside other stakeholders bought to light the severity of this issue and the catastrophic impact upon the ecology of the river Nene. Throughout their fight P&DAA has faced significant barriers to achieving the outcome agreed by all – the safe return of the seals to their colonies.

Each time the removal process stalled, the Angling Trust stepped in to move it forward – from securing the suspension of RSPCA seal releases at Sutton Bridge and working with the RSPCA to identify suitable alternative sites on the coast, to winning Natural England’s agreement to relocation, to guidance through the licence application process that finally enabled action on the ground.

The Angling Trust also successfully negotiated a protocol with Natural England and the Environment Agency on the use of acoustic deterrent devices which allowed the use of these devices to move seals in the freshwater environment in a humane way without requiring a licence – these can now be applied on the Nene and more broadly across the country where seals are impacting freshwater fisheries.

Jamie Cook, CEO of the Angling Trust, said:

“Every time the process stalled, we found a way to restart it – whether negotiating with the RSPCA, the Environment Agency, Natural England or others. Our team didn’t just advise we submitted the licence application, and when it came to the sharp end, our own staff were in the river helping with the capture. This is exactly why angling needs a credible, national body that can work alongside passionate local volunteers to deliver results once thought impossible.”

Rob Harris, Chairman of Peterborough & District Angling Association added:

“Our members have seen first-hand the damage caused by seals stranded in freshwater and how hard we have worked to achieve a result that supports not only anglers and angling but seals and the environment as well, with a balanced ecological view for the benefit of all. The Angling Trust and Fish Legal’s persistence and expertise helped us break out of the bureaucracy. They gave us a national voice, broke deadlocks with regulators, and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us on the bank when it mattered.”

The operation was carried out under a Natural England licence, with veterinary oversight and support from the International Zoo Veterinary Group and Marine and Wildlife Rescue. The first seal was safely released back to its natural coastal habitat and the second is being prepared for release by the RSPCA team at East Winch where this story began.

The River Nene case shows how complex seal management has become:

• Strict wildlife protection laws mean removal is legally challenging.
• Multiple agencies must be aligned.
• Local clubs alone cannot overcome these barriers.

This success underlines why angling needs a single, credible national voice to influence government, regulators and major charities. Without that partnership, this result would not have been possible.

Clubs facing similar issues with seals or other protected predators should contact the Angling Trust for advice. Lessons learned here can help fast-track future cases.

📖 Learn more about the wider issue of seals in freshwater and angling impacts →