- Lifespan
- 25–30 years in the wild
- Size & Weight
- 130–170 cm length; 45–100 kg (males larger than females)
- Habitat
- Coastal waters, estuaries, and rocky or sandy shores around the UK, preferring shallow inshore areas and haul-out sites on rocks and sandbanks.
- UK Distribution
- Found around all UK coasts, with major populations in Scotland (particularly the Hebrides and Orkney), Northeast England, and smaller populations in Wales and Southwest England. Resident year-round with no significant migration.
- Diet
- Fish and occasionally crustaceans, including sand eels, herring, whiting, pouting, and flatfish.
- Prey
- Sand eels, herring, whiting, pouting, flatfish, and occasionally crustaceans
- Predators
- Primarily grey seals (predation on pups), killer whales (in deeper waters), and historically man
- Mating Season
- June to August
- Breeding
- Single pup born per female; gestation approximately 9 months; pup weaned at 4–6 weeks; females reach sexual maturity at 3–5 years; breeding occurs on haul-out sites on land.
- Behaviour
- Highly social, hauling out in groups on rocks and sandbanks, especially during breeding and moulting seasons. They are excellent divers, reaching depths of up to 300 m, and spend much time in water but return to land to rest, breed, and moult. Males are territorial during breeding season.