TITLE: AI Tool Speeds Seal Population Monitoring at Scottish Beach

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the monitoring of grey seal populations at a protected beach in Aberdeenshire, allowing researchers to process drone footage in seconds rather than hours.

Marine biologist and PhD student Claire Stainfield is leading efforts to count seals at Newburgh beach on the Ythan Estuary, a designated seal haul-out site since 2017. These protected areas provide spaces for seals to rest and breed on land. Her work focuses on evaluating whether increasing tourist numbers affect the local seal population, which has surged from just 10 to 20 individuals about 50 years ago to more than 3,000 at peak times.

Stainfield deploys drones with special research clearance to capture aerial footage, as recreational drone use is prohibited to avoid disturbing the animals. It is an offense to interfere with the seals, and visitors are instructed to remain on the south side of the beach. Her analysis reveals that adherence to this guideline results in minimal disturbance, unlike activity on the north side.

AI's Role in Data Processing

Traditionally, reviewing drone footage to count seals could take hours per survey, especially with up to 1,000 animals visible in a single image. Stainfield trained an AI model to identify and tally the seals automatically, reducing processing time for a photo showing about 2,500 seals from three hours to mere seconds.

"It's huge; it's saving a lot of time," Stainfield said. The model required initial manual training but now streamlines what was a labor-intensive task. She noted that the sandy beach backdrop makes the dark-furred seals stand out, ideal for testing the technology.

The AI tool not only speeds up counts but also incorporates GPS data from the drones to track seal locations. This enables detailed mapping of how the animals use the beach seasonally.

Seasonal Patterns and Tourism Impact

Stainfield's research spans two years, with weekly data collection through harsh Aberdeen winters to capture full seasonal variations. In summer, when tourism peaks, seals congregate at the estuary mouth for foraging and time at sea, away from busier beach areas. During winter breeding and moulting seasons, they haul out closer to a new walkway and viewing point, though colder weather typically reduces visitor numbers.

Her findings indicate that proper tourist management—sticking to designated paths—limits impacts on the seals. The study aims to inform conservation strategies as visitor numbers rise alongside the seal population.

Broader Applications in Ecology

Stainfield is ambitious about expanding the AI's use beyond Newburgh. Future plans include applying it to other sites and species, capitalizing on the growing adoption of drones in ecology. Drones provide accurate, less invasive counts, accessing hard-to-reach areas without disturbing wildlife.

"Drones and ecology are really taking off," she said. "Having a tool that can be used alongside the drones would really help with a lot of industries wanting to use drones."

The technology's efficiency could benefit various ecological monitoring efforts, from wildlife censuses to habitat assessments, by handling large datasets quickly and accurately.

Conservation Context

The Ythan Estuary's seal colony draws tourists, boosting local interest in wildlife but raising concerns about human-seal interactions. Authorities emphasize education and enforcement to protect the site. Stainfield's work underscores the balance possible between ecotourism and conservation, provided guidelines are followed.

As seal populations recover in Scotland, tools like AI will play a key role in sustainable management, ensuring growth continues without undue stress from human activity.