Introducing the New England Team Dedicated to Seal Conservation

Block Island, Rhode Island – The enigmatic aquarium animal rescue team is busier than ever.

With binoculars in hand, Program Manager Sarah Curran surveys the coastline, facing an increasing problem on Block Island.

When fishing gear, litter, or balloons entangle a gray seal’s neck, these marine mammals, which can weigh over 800 pounds, may suffer serious injuries or even death as the restraints tighten.

Thus far this year, Connecticut nonprofits have reported 20 tangled gray seals, surpassing the usual count recorded by Mystic each year.

Curran affectionately dubbed one of the seals “anxiety.”

NBC News has been granted rare access to follow Mystic’s collaboration with the Atlantic Marine Conservation Association and the Brock Island Maritime Institute, which recently formed.

Curran and her team navigated around a group of seal pups basking at the water’s edge. They skillfully separated the entangled pups and dashed on bright red boards to capture them with precision and speed.

Once a pup was secured, the team worked quickly to attach a tracker for research and freed it from the fishing net constricting its neck.

“We can release stickers today and avoid the need to transport them to the clinic for rehabilitation,” said Curran, who leads the effort. “The sooner you can intervene, the better the chances of recovery.”

This team previously photographed a seal pup stuck with a plastic object in downtown New Haven, Connecticut, in February. The pup, with its big eyes and gentle whine, captured the public’s heart and even received the name “Chappy” through a voting contest.

Unfortunately, Chappy’s story didn’t have a happy ending. In a statement online, Mystic reported that pieces of plastic were found in his stomach, highlighting the dangers that marine debris, particularly plastic, poses to marine life.

Some estimates indicate that plastic pollution claims the lives of over 100,000 marine mammals annually.

“The number of animals interacting with human debris in their early months of life is quite alarming,” Curran stated.

In this ongoing battle, Mystic remains undeterred.

The team celebrated as the seals returned to the sea, now freed from the constraining nets.

“It’s a special moment to give these animals a second chance at life,” Curran remarked. “It’s truly rewarding to witness.”