Dead seal washes up on Bexhill beach

The lifeless animal was found on the beach close to the De La Warr Pavilion on Monday afternoon (December 21).

A man who spotted it while he was walking said the seal was washed back out to sea before the authorities were contacted.

Rother District Council said their officers had been unable to find it.

A Rother District Council spokesperson said: “Our Coastal Officers have checked the beaches surrounding the De La Warr Pavilion and have been unable to find the seal.

"When they do find marine carcasses, where appropriate they are reported to Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) for their records and if suitable, CSIP will collect the carcass for further investigation.

"On this occasion the seal was not reported to the office and it wasn’t found during normal beach inspections.”

Less than two weeks ago, two dead porpoises washed up on Bexhill beach.

The first porpoise with the missing tail had clear signs of bycatch, (non-target marine life rejected from a catch at sea), Brighton Dolphin Project said.

The second harbour porpoise showed signs of more advanced decomposition and died around three weeks ago, the organisation said.