Moving too close to marine animals in France can land you a €750 fine
It is acceptable to watch them but only from a distance of over 100m
Marine mammals are protected from intrusive observation
Jens Goos/Shutterstock
People gathering to watch seals on the north coast of France are warned to remain at a distance of 100m or face a fine of €750. The same rule applies to dolphins and whales.
The sight of seals basking on the beaches of Picardy inevitably draws crowds which can be a potential source of stress for the animals.
Marine mammals are thus protected from intrusive observation by a decree added to the French Environment Code in 2011.
The €750 fine rises to €3,500 for companies if intentionally disturbing the animals.
Environmental officers from France’s environmental police, the Office français de la biodiversité (OFB), are authorised to issue the fines.
“We recommend a distance of 300m to respect the animals and avoid any disturbance to these protected species”, OFB officer Sophie Lebrun told TF1 on March 14
“We have people who feel that even at this distance, they are still too far away. They want to take photos closer to the seals.”
Picardy seals
Hundreds of seals can be observed in the three estuaries between Calais and Dunkirk (Pas-de-Calais) as they rest several times a day. They are typically seen at low tide.
However, the seal colony is vulnerable and fluctuates each year. In 2024, the number of new cubs born fell by 50%.
Local association Picardy Nature is appealing for volunteers to monitor the colony during the summer months. You can see more here or visit the group’s facebook page (below).
