EU seals face threats from pollution, climate change, and human activity despite legal protections.
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Seals across European coastlines face escalating threats, risking extinction for some species despite legal protections under the EU Habitats Directive. While some populations in places like Denmark and Ireland are recovering due to strong enforcement, others are declining due to hunting, pollution, human disturbance, and climate change. In Spain and Greece, coastal development and tourism endanger the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal. Across Europe, rising seal deaths are linked to entanglement in fishing gear, extreme weather, and human interference. Marine litter, microplastics, noise from shipping, and warming seas further harm seals. Although some conservation efforts are underway—including rehabilitation centers and tracking initiatives—experts argue that weak enforcement across member states undermines strong EU laws, leaving the future of seal populations uncertain. Meanwhile, certified sealskins from traditional Inuit hunts in Greenland can be sold in the EU under specific exceptions.
