As spring settles in, New Yorkers strolling the waterfront might spot a sleek silhouette basking in the sun — a seal hauled out on the sand, far from the Arctic chill. The annual return of harbor, grey, and harp seals to city shores is underway, and conservation officials have a simple message: stay away.
While sightings stretch from the Rockaways to Staten Island, state officials say admiration should be done at a distance — at least 150 feet — or you could endanger the animal, yourself, and land in legal trouble.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation notes that seals begin arriving in some areas as early as November, though peak visibility typically runs from March through May. But as seal activity increases, so does human curiosity — and that’s where things go wrong.
“They’re mammals, so they could have any disease that we might get,” Rob DiGiovanni, a marine biologist who leads the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, told Gothamist. His group runs field surveys and seasonal excursions to track seal presence across the region — from Long Island Sound to the upper harbor. “It’s just important to make sure that you keep your distance, really, is the biggest takeaway,” he explained.
Federal law offers seals full protection. The Marine Mammal Protection Act bars any form of harassment, touching, or feeding. Offenders face stiff penalties, including fines up to $20,000 and potential jail time.
DiGiovanni, whose team always uses personal protective gear when handling marine mammals, warns that a lounging seal is not necessarily a healthy one — and certainly not a selfie opportunity. Indicators of stress can be subtle: flippers in the air, exposed teeth, exaggerated yawning, or even the ingestion of sand and debris.
His advice to the public: don’t approach. If the animal appears injured or disoriented, call the state’s stranding hotline at 631-369-9829. Emergency response teams from the New York Marine Rescue Center will assess the situation.
