The operation to remove a seal which found itself in the Rochford Reservoir continues.
Rochford District Council was first made aware of the seal’s presence before Christmas and immediately alerted the relevant agencies to monitor the situation and do a welfare check.
The Council has been working closely with members of British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), Environment Agency, Essex Police and Marks Hall Fisheries to rescue the seal.
A two-day rescue attempt, conducted earlier this week, was unfortunately unsuccessful. At present, welfare checks on the seal are being conducted daily to monitor the mammal’s condition.
Following recommendations from marine experts, the fishing ban at the lake has been extended until further notice.
Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for the Environment, Cllr Dave Sperring said:
"We apologise for any inconvenience to fishers, but would ask all residents to keep their distance from the area for the safety of the seal and for themselves, and please keep your dog on a lead."