Harbor Seals: Aerial Surveys over Maine and Tagging in Virginia

Posted on June 18, 2018

In early February NEFSC Protected Species Branch Chief Sean Hayes joined the U.S. Navy's harbor seal tagging and tracking project in the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia nearshore waters. The group captured and tagged seven harbor seals off the eastern shore of Virginia between February 4 and 8.  Five of the seven tagged seals were still transmitting via their satellite tags on May 24; four of the five were located in the Gulf of Maine during the NEFSC's recent harbor seal aerial survey there, and one male was located off Hyannis, Mass.

The February tagging team, which included many organizations, was led by Rob DiGiovanni of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, who has participated in a number of seal tagging projects with the NEFSC. The information gained will provide baseline data needed to help assess any potential effects those activities could have on harbor seal movements, seasonal habitat use, and migration routes.

https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/press_release/pr2018/features/harbor-seal-survey/