More stupidity from the Telegraph

"Common seal in sharp decline due to climate change and pollution" - Telegraph

...the latest survey by the Sea Mammals Research Unit at St Andrews University has found a dramatic decline in numbers around the UK. Researchers used thermal imaging cameras from a helicopter or planes over the coast during the summer to count the seals.

Between 2000 and 2007 the number of common seals found around the coast of Scotland and England declined by 56 per cent from 36,345 to 23,277.
...
"The harbour seal is protected under the EU Habitats directive and Scotland and the UK has a special responsibility to protect it," he said. "It is a top predator its decline could be an indication of problems lower down the food chain."

Mr Baxter said there could be a range of reasons for the decline including competition from the larger grey seal, which has seen numbers improve since controls on shooting the species and over fishing, which continues to diminish certain food stocks.

Climate change is also a concern as certain species are dying out or moving to different waters because of global warming.

1. Did the UK even warm between 2000 and 2007?

2. If CO2 is so devastating to the harbour seal, why isn't it devastating to the grey seal? And isn't the grey seal also a top predator?

3. If the use of fossil fuels is so devastating to the harbour seal, why are researchers choosing to use fossil-fueled helicopters or planes?