In 1925 the National Trust purchased the Farne Islands, off the Northumbrian coast, which had been an unofficial nature reserve since the late 19^th century and where grey seal breeding populations were established.

Further parliamentary protection in 1932 extended the close season, and gave year-round protection to seals resident on Haskeir in Outer Hebrides. This Act also gave government the power to suspend protection at a site or to alter close season dates.

This protection, plus other factors, has seen British grey seal population increase by around 6% per annum in modern era:

• In the mid-1930s the population was estimated at 9,000

• By the mid-1960s it had increased to approximately 34,000

• In 2000 the SMRU figures indicated a population of 124,300

• Today, there may be up to 150,000

Around 40% of the world population now breeds in Britain, giving the UK government international responsibility for the species. About 90% of the British population breeds in Scotland.