Seal Tagging and Tracking in Virginia: 2017–2018

About

This proof-of-concept study was undertaken to establish whether wild seals could be successfully captured and tagged in coastal Virginia, because this has not been previously attempted in this area. Further, the study sought to establish the feasibility of using satellite tags to better understand seals’ residency time in Virginia waters, their local habitat utilization patterns, and where they migrate to in the spring. The information gathered from this effort will provide valuable baseline data needed for the future assessment of harbor seal movements and site fidelity along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.