Retailers Back Campaign to Remove Flying Rings and Protect Seals

Shops across the country are backing a campaign to protect seals from the dangers of plastic flying rings, which can cause life-threatening injuries.

Major Retailers Step In

The Works is one of hundreds of national and independent shops who have pledged support for the Seal Alliance’s campaign. The retailer removed flying rings from its seaside stores in June 2024 and stopped ordering any more stock, instead switching to safer alternatives such as solid discs.

Flying rings, including dog toy rings, can cost as little as £1.50. Once lost or discarded on beaches or near waterways, they often end up floating in the sea where seals investigate them. If a ring slips over a seal’s head, it can get stuck fast, eventually cutting into the animal’s skin as it grows. This leads to immense suffering and often death.

Gareth Richards, Vice Chair of Seal Alliance, said:
“We are deeply grateful to all those shops helping to protect our precious seals and reduce their needless suffering. We do not want retailers to lose out financially, quite the opposite in fact. Retailers are actually reporting an increase in the sale of solid disc frisbees since they stopped selling flying rings, so their profits are not affected. We are asking shops to consider non-plastic ones as preferable for the environment.”

Suppliers Back the Campaign

Wendy Hill, Sales Representative for Palgrave Ltd, a major supplier of beach toys, confirmed that her company is also supporting the campaign.

“We have been distributing flyers to our customers to highlight the injury and dangers flying rings cause to our poor seals. As a result of this, our sale of these rings has slowed considerably and our customers are purchasing our alternative offering of solid flying discs. We are planning to phase the flying rings out completely in the future.”

Small Shops Make a Big Difference

Arran Active, a family-run Scottish sports shop, is among the many smaller retailers taking action. Director Richard Godfrey said:
“After seeing the campaign, we realised that we had a responsibility to make a positive change by removing all flying rings from sale and committing to never stock these again. A simple change with a huge impact!”

Cornwall Leads the Way

Cornwall has played a central role in the campaign. Cornwall Council has unanimously supported all retailers in the county by voting in a voluntary ban on the sale of flying rings.

Sue Sayer MBE, Founder and Director of the Seal Research Trust, welcomed the move:
“I am genuinely delighted that Cornwall Council has unanimously supported all retailers in Cornwall to take flying rings off their shelves by voting in a voluntary ban on the sale of flying rings across the county. Retailers can feel confident that removing flying rings from their shelves is the right thing to do and they do so with council backing.”

Shops that have swapped flying rings for seal-safe solid discs are displaying the Seal Alliance Shop Poster, endorsed with the Cornwall Council logo.

How You Can Help

Everyone can play their part in protecting seals by avoiding the purchase, use, or sale of flying rings. Supporters are also encouraged to sign the petition calling for a national ban on the sale of these toys: Save Our Seals From Flying Rings.

📷Pinkafo Seal - Photo credit Matthew Perring