Thames Seal Watch

Thames Seal Watch is a grassroots movement working with BDMLR to protect the seals of London’s iconic river. After the tragic death of Freddie the seal in 2021 – killed by an off-leash dog while basking near Hammersmith Bridge – activists, artists, and citizens rallied to ensure no seal would suffer the same fate. Thames Seal Watch emerged from this tragedy not just to honor Freddie’s memory, but to reshape how Londoners coexist with their wild neighbors. Their mission is to protect the seals of the Thames through education, advocacy, and public engagement.

One of their first victories was the installation of seal safety signs along the Thames, urging dog owners and pedestrians to “Give Seals Space.” Thames Seal Watch launched the Seal Ambassador programme to empower local communities, especially young people, to become stewards of the river. Ambassadors learn about seal behavior, conservation challenges, and how to respond responsibly to sightings.

Thames Seal Watch has also taken their fight to Parliament, lobbying for amendments to the Wildlife and Countryside Act to make seal harassment a criminal offense. By working with DEFRA and local MPs, they’re pushing for legal recognition of seals’ vulnerability in urban environments. In 2026 Thames Seal Watch watched over harbor seal Marmalade while she took residence in the middle of the city, drawing lots of spectators, and were even able to keep her safe during the London Marathon. Marmalade showed how well a seal could adapt to city life when awareness is raised for their needs, but tragically was found dead of unknown cause later on.