A newly installed camera at the North Lighthouse on Block Island is already making waves in marine conservation, helping rescue eight entangled seals, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced this week.
The seals were spotted and rescued thanks to the camera, which was recently set up by DEM’s Division of Marine Fisheries in partnership with Mystic Aquarium. The goal of the initiative is to monitor the local seal population and aid in conservation efforts in real time.
The eight rescued seals are now being rehabilitated at Mystic Aquarium and will be released back into the wild once they recover.
Officials are reminding the public to keep their distance from seals. “Approaching seals isn’t just illegal, it can also cause harm,” DEM said in a statement, citing the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. “Getting too close can cause serious stress to the animals and potentially spread disease.”
The department advises keeping at least 150 feet away from seals and avoiding interaction altogether.
Anyone who sees a seal in distress or tangled in debris is urged to contact the Mystic Aquarium Animal Rescue Program’s 24-hour hotline at (860) 572-5955 ext. 107.
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