Did you know that the baie de Somme is home to the largest seal colony in France? All year long, at low tide, you can see this adorable animal belonging to the family of Phocidae resting on the sandbanks of the Atlantic coast.
Did you know that the baie de Somme is home to the largest seal colony in France? All year long, at low tide, you can see this adorable animal belonging to the family of Phocidae resting on the sandbanks of the Atlantic coast.
Located in the Hauts-de-France, the bay of the Somme is home to a large number of harbour seals, also known as sea calves, and a few grey seals thanks to its tides. The mammals are attracted by the ideal living environment offered by this site which gathers everything necessary for their survival.
The natural reserve is full of fish, molluscs and crustaceans, so it is the perfect hunting ground for these marine predators.
The seals also take advantage of the vast sandbanks that appear at low tide, to rest, give birth and feed their young in peace. These sandbanks, called "resting banks", are located near a wide and deep channel, allowing them to flee in case of danger. Seals settle there until the arrival of the tide that forces them out to sea.
In the 19th century, seals were hunted for their skin and meat. A century later, victims of human excesses, the species is on the verge of extinction on the Somme Bay coast. The hunting of sea calves and grey seals was banned in 1972. If they are now a protected species, their natural environment is also protected with the creation of the Baie de Somme National Reserve, listed in 1994.
The colony was able to survive and grow thanks to the efforts of the Picardie Nature association, which is responsible for the protection of the species. Today, there are about 400 sea calves and 100 grey seals.
To observe the seals, take your long view and go to the tip of the Hourdel de la Baie d'Authie, a small fishing village located 10km from St Valéry-sur-Somme. It is here that the colony is the most important in the estuary.
Several ways are proposed to observe them on the beach : by foot, by canoe, kayak or on horseback. You can ask for a guide on site who will be very helpful and will provide you with information about these incredible marine mammals.
It is also possible to see seals in Saint-Valéry or Le Crotoy. Be careful, however, to keep your distance to avoid scaring them!
What if you took advantage of your presence on the spot to go sand yachting? After seal watching, this is another gentle but sporty way to admire this impressive coastal area of Picardy.
Jessica from Comme des Français
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