If you see something, don't say something when it comes to seals at the beach

If You See Something, Don’t Say Something When it Comes to Seals at the Beach

TOMS RIVER, NJ – The Marine Mammal Stranding Center has issued an important reminder for New Jersey residents and visitors during the seal season. Seals, after extensive swims from the north, require rest and solitude, which can be disrupted by the presence of onlookers, potentially causing them stress and premature departure back to the water.

The center advises maintaining a distance of at least 150 feet from any seals spotted in the wild and urges the public not to share seal locations on social media. Additionally, beach drivers are cautioned to slow down and be vigilant for seals resting in less visible areas, such as behind berms or in tire ruts.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center emphasizes the importance of reporting seal sightings through their 24-hour hotline at (609) 266-0538, to ensure the safety and well-being of these marine visitors to New Jersey’s shores.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

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