Seal Spotting on the South Coast

A Nature Experience for the Whole Family

At Skåre, west of Trelleborg, there is a marine reserve where you can see seals up close. In the fall and between January and March, harbor seals often rest on the rocks, usually from the large colony at Måkläppen.

Bring your binoculars and watch these fascinating animals, but be sure to keep your distance so as not to disturb them. For a better view, there’s an observation tower west of the harbor, making it easy for the whole family to enjoy this delightful nature experience.

A unique setting

The Fredshög-Stavstensudde Nature Reserve spans just over 1,000 hectares of marine area and also includes 2 hectares of land. In the eastern part of the reserve, near Stavstensudde, the boundary extends a short distance inland and encompasses a managed beach meadow that was once a soccer field.

Beautiful plants such as the common carnation and the meadow squill grow here, making the area an interesting spot for both nature lovers and birdwatchers.

Rich Ecosystem

The Fredshög-Stavstensudde Nature Reserve is a fantastic place for birdwatchers and nature lovers. The diverse landscape here attracts many waterbirds, such as the mute swan, black-headed gull, herring gull, and great cormorant. The varied seabed structure—comprising rocks, sand, and limestone—fosters rich vegetation and creates a thriving ecosystem.

The area is also home to a wide variety of fish species, including eel, cod, sea eel, flounder, and sea trout. In addition, there are smaller marine creatures such as mantis shrimp, sea lice, shore crabs, and marine bristle worms that contribute to biodiversity. 

Seal Watching

In the Fredshög-Stavstensudde Nature Reserve, you can regularly spot harbor seals, which often rest on the large rocks west of Skåre. The seals are believed to come from a main colony at the Måkläppen Nature Reserve off the coast of Falsterbo. The presence of seals further contributes to the reserve’s biodiversity and makes it an important habitat for marine life, where various species thrive and flourish. 

Practical Information

For visitors to the Skåre and Fredshög-Stavstensudde Nature Reserve, parking is available both at the harbor and along Stenhögsvägen. Please note that parking is not permitted along Route 9, as this is a major thoroughfare. There are picnic tables near the observation tower if you’d like to bring a snack. For children, there’s a fun wooden playground with a seal and nature theme.