Though it’s the off-season for swimming, Cupsogue Beach County Park in Westhampton continues to attract visitors as the Coastal Research and Educational Society of Long Island (CRESLI) marks the 20th year of its popular seal walks and cruises.
These weekend excursions provide nature enthusiasts with the chance to explore the beach and observe seals that migrate to the area each winter.
Three walk dates remain this month for those eager to join CRESLI President Dr. Arthur "Artie" Kopelman on a 1.2-mile round-trip journey along Cupsogue Beach. Kopelman, senior scientist and co-founder of the nonprofit, will lead the walks, offering an up-close view of the seals that frequent the area during the winter months.
The next walk is Saturday, Dec. 14, at 11 a.m., followed by another on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 10 a.m., and Sunday, Dec. 29, at 10:45 a.m. Additional hikes are scheduled for the new year, as the seals typically remain in the area until late April.
The walk lasts 60 to 90 minutes and is suitable for all ages, though Kopelman notes that the sandy beach does not accommodate wheelchairs or strollers. He also advises participants to dress in layers to stay warm, as the park’s bathrooms are closed during the winter months.
“The objective of the walks and the cruises are manifold,” Kopelman said. “One is to educate the public about the seals that are here for seven months out of the year, their diversity (there are different species here), their behaviors, and how to observe them without causing disturbance.”
As the seal walk program enters its 20th year, Kopelman added, “People learn about their behavior, their biology, what they’re doing when we see them, and about their status.”
On that last point, he emphasized, “They’re doing fine,” citing the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 and New York State’s own legal protections for marine mammals.
Kopelman also pointed out that before the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Maine and Massachusetts had ended their bounties on seals in 1962. Seals had been blamed for depleting fish populations, but Kopelman attributes the problem to human fishing practices, not the seals themselves.
“It was always easier to blame the seal. That’s why their numbers crashed,” he said.
Today, the Atlantic Harbor seal population is on the rise. After beginning to return to New York waters in the 1980s, the seals migrate south from eastern Canada and New England for the winter months. While there is no exact seal count on Long Island, Kopelman’s seal walks have led to 32,617 sightings since 2006, spanning 551 trips.
Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars or a camera to observe the seals from a distance. Some equipment may be available for those who don’t have their own. A donation of $5 for adults and $3 for children is suggested to support CRESLI’s research and programs.
For the past four years, CRESLI has also offered seal cruises on Shinnecock Bay aboard the R/V Peconic from Stony Brook University’s Marine Science Center in Southampton.
In December, there will be a two-hour cruise on Sunday, Dec. 15, with a 12:30 p.m. departure. The cost is $40 per person.
Founded in 1996, CRESLI works to conserve the coastal ecosystem and conduct research on marine life, from harbor seals to whales. The volunteer-based organization combines education and research and is always in need of volunteers and donations.