Council halts sea defence drilling over impact on Rhyl SeaQuarium seals

Denbighshire Council says it has offered to pay for the seals to be rehomed as animals suffer 'chronic stress' from the noise and vibrations

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A row has erupted between Denbighshire Council and Rhyl SeaQuarium over the impact of the coastal defence works on the animals at the centre. The work taking place on the seafront in Rhyl has been forced to stop within 100 metres of the aquarium after it was found that the noise and vibrations were harming the animals.

The popular visitor attraction says it is now considering rehoming its resident seals as a result. Denbighshire Council say they have offered to pay for transporting and housing the seals in an alternative temporary home, sourced by an animal welfare expert appointed by both sides, while work on the Central Rhyl Coastal Defences Scheme is carried out.

SeaQuarium, which has been established in Rhyl for more than 30 years, says it welcomes over 80,000 visitors each year and employs more than 20 local workers. The centre says its directors have raised grave concerns surrounding the Central Rhyl Coastal Defences Scheme, which received planning approval in 2022. The council say the owners have never disputed the need for the sea defence project.

SeaQuarium owners believe the work, which is taking place on the town's promenade, will have a harmful impact on hearing and induce a chronic stress response from seals with behavioural and physical welfare issues and impact the other animals housed in the aquarium.

The centre believes it will be forced to close its doors without adequate support from the council, which it has also accused of only implementing a 'Plan B' when the animals were in distress despite prior warning about the coastal defence work. The council says it has always followed the advice of an independent animal welfare expert appointed by both sides.

SeaQuarium Director and co-owner, Colette MacDonald, claims she fears for the safety of the distressed animals and the long-term viability of the business, calling upon Denbighshire County Council for a solution.

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Colette MacDonald said: "Following our public plea for help, we've had lots of local support showing concerns for the future of the animals and the attraction.

"Denbighshire County Council issued a statement to say if the drilling works are impacting the animals, then they would revert to Plan B. Despite consistently warning of this exact scenario for over two years with officials at the council, Plan B was only brought to light last week as previously they refused to discuss the option.

"We are potentially sourcing a suitable alternative facility for the seals to be re-homed out of North Wales, an outcome which could have been avoided had our concerns not fallen on deaf ears. We always said the coastal defence scheme would cause significant distress to the animals if not managed correctly.

A Denbighshire Council spokesperson said: "Denbighshire County Council is working on the advice of an independent animal welfare expert (appointed by both sides) in relation to the delivery of these works and the impact on the seals. The council had hoped the project could be delivered without the seals needing to be moved as the animal welfare expert advised that the seals could get used to a gradual increase in the noise and vibration levels as the project developed. When the expert decided that the animal behaviour had changed, the council followed this advice and instructed works in the immediate vicinity to stop.

"Over the past few months, the animal welfare expert appointed by the council and SeaQuarium has been reviewing locations for a suitable temporary home for the seals if there was a requirement for them to be rehomed. The Council wrote to the owners of the SeaQuarium on 21 July, with an offer for Denbighshire County Council to pay for transporting and housing the seals in an alternative temporary home. The council is still awaiting a response from SeaQuarium to that letter.

"To be very clear, these captive seals belong to SeaQuarium. The seals and the business are not owned by the council. It should therefore have been the responsibility of SeaQuarium to arrange for the seals to be moved if they felt at any stage that they needed to be rehoused.

"These seals have been brought into an already noisy environment in Rhyl, being next door to the Rhyl Events Arena and situated between a busy road and the sea. SeaQuarium is a very noisy environment in its own right, and significant noise is already created by their activities, such as the daily performing seal shows.

"The owners of SeaQuarium have never disputed the need to deliver this essential sea defence project. If the seals need to be moved, then it needs to happen quickly so that the work can continue. SeaQuarium therefore needs to be talking to Denbighshire County Council about the offer on the table.

"This Flood Defence Project is essential to protect homes, seafront and town centre businesses, and the tourist economy from future flooding events. If this work is not completed, around 600 homes and businesses will continue to be at risk from coastal flooding in central Rhyl. A coastal flood event would have a devastating impact for the people of Rhyl and on the economy of the town.

"The beachfront kiosks are owned by Denbighshire County Council and are leased to tenants. The council had been in discussions with the kiosk tenants for 18 months regarding this situation and terms were agreed with each of them with all the tenants having professional representation throughout the process."

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