DETERMINATION OF POPULATION BOUNDARIES OF HARBOR SEAL IN THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0212411
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 2007
• Project End Date: Jan 31, 2012
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
(N/A)
ORONO,ME 04469

Performing Department
WILDLIFE ECOLOGY

Non Technical Summary
Harbor seals are significant predators of farmed and wild fish. This project defines the boundaries, the numbers, and the mortality of the harbor seal population(s) in New England. This information is required prior to developing any measures to reduce predation.

Animal Health Component

80%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

20%

Applied

80%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
135	0899	1070	80%
135	0899	1080	20%

Knowledge Area
135 - Aquatic and Terrestrial Wildlife;

Subject Of Investigation
0899 - Wildlife and natural fisheries, general/other;

Field Of Science
1070 - Ecology; 1080 - Genetics;

Keywords

phoca vitulina

harbor seal

population assessment

mortality;

Goals / Objectives
1. Apply cluster sampling to determine the numbers and distributions of harbor seals in New England. 2. Determine the relatedness of harbor seals in Maine to populations in Eastern Canada. 3. Evaluate the extent and pattern of harbor seal pup mortality.

Project Methods
The estimation of numbers and distribution of harbor seals in New England will require two types of field efforts; capture and radio-tagging of seals to estimate the fraction of the animals on land and available to be counted, and an aerial survey counting of harbor seals during the pupping season in late May. The first of these efforts would be the responsibility of the National Marine Fisheries Service; they have the experience, personnel, and necessary federal permits to conduct this task. The aerial survey would be under the purview of the principal investigator. The aerial survey design will consist of a series of sectors of the coast that will be counted between May 25 and June 5. A year should be selected when low tide is near mid day about May 30. The tides in 2007 are not good for this survey; the tides in 2008 are satisfactory. Counts should be conducted 2 h either side of low tide. The goal of the genetics objective is to evaluate the relatedness of New England harbor seals with those of Maritime Canada. Currently, NOAA-Fisheries considers all harbor seals in New England to be one stock (Waring et al., 2006), but this has been a default position in the absence of data to the contrary. I have collected tissue samples from neonate harbor seals in Blue Hill Bay (Skinner, 2006), thus ensuring that they are representative of the population/stock of that bay. Structure of stocks will be defined using mtDNA analyzes as have been used by Picaud, et al. (2005). Likely these US specimens will be evaluated at the same laboratory used by Picaud. My role will be to provide the specimens and assist in the ecological interpretation of the results. This first step is to compare the stock structure of the harbor seal population in New England to previously analyzed populations at sites in Canada to determine if there is stock separation between New England and the Maritime Provinces harbor seals. To obtain a measure of the number of stranded and dead harbor seal pups, a sample frame of islands and ledges will be constructed. Likely we will sample groups of islands and ledges to try to get an estimate of the numbers in an area. A sample of these sites will be visited and searched for abandoned, weak, and dead harbor seal pups. Of these, a sub-sample of sites will be visited periodically to determine the persistence of dead pups, since tides and scavengers can move and remove carcasses. On each visit to these sites, pup carcasses will be tagged for subsequent identification.

Progress 10/01/07 to 01/31/12

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Events: Gulf of Maine Seals - Populations, Problems, and Priorities. 27-29 May 2009, Woods Hole Massachusetts. 85 attendees. Three presentations at above Workshop. 1. Harbor Seals in the Gulf of Maine. 2. Interactions between harbor seals and Atlantic salmon Aquaculture in Maine. Marcy Nelson & James Gilbert. 3. U.S. Gray Seal Recolonization: Status and Stock Structure. Stephanie Wood, Tim Frasier, Brenna McLeod, Bradley White, W.Don Bowen, Mike Hammill, James Gilbert, Gordon Waring, & Solange Brault. Gulf of Maine Seals Workshop, Woods Hole Mass. May 2009 Invited Presentation: Status of Seals in US Atlantic Coastal Waters. May 2010. Northeast Marine Mammal Stranding Network Meeting, Bar Harbor, Maine. 100 people. Abstract and Poster: "An Increase in the Number of Gray Seal (Halichoerus grypus) Pups Observed in U.S. Waters between 1994 and 2008:Re-establishment of Former Pupping Sites." by Stephanie Wood and others, including J. Gilbert. 18th Biennial Conference, Society of Marine Mammalogy, Quebec CA Oct 2009 Abstract and Poster: "Characteristics of phocid seal bycatch in New England Fisheries," by Belden, Waring, Palka, Gilbert,and Van Atten. 18th Biennial Conference, Society of Marine Mammalogy, Quebec CA Oct 2009 PARTICIPANTS: Seal Capture: James R. Gilbert: principal investigator Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, Protected Species Branch. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Riverhead Foundation International Fund For Animal Welfare New England Aquarium. Training: Young researchers were given training in seal capture and handling methods. Seal Consortium Meetings: Individuals Marcy Nelson, Maine Dept. Marine Resources. Stephanie Wood, U. Mass. Boston. Gordon Waring, NOAA FIsheries, Woods Hole. Solange Brault, U. Mass. Boston. Partner Organizations, Collaborators As above Opportunities for Training or Professional Development: Gulf of Maine Seals Workshop, Woods Hole Mass. May 2009. TARGET AUDIENCES: Meeting presentations: Individuals, government agencies and non-governmental agencies with interests in the status of seals in the Gulf of Maine. Marine Mammal Stranding Network personnel, gained knowledge of wild harbor seal pup development in NE. Fishers in the Gulf of Maine believe seals damage gear and compete with them for the same fisheries resources. Knowledge about numbers, distributions, and movements influence selection of management options. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Project will be continued with other funding.

Impacts
As a result of gray seal genetic analyses, all gray seals in the Gulf of Maine, including those in Massachusetts, Maine, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, are considered one population. This knowledge will influence how management approaches problems of seal-fisheries interactions and shark attraction to seal resting sites. Based on previous population and productivity work with harbor seals, stranding networks are not responding to all harbor seal pup strandings; saving resources for truly stranded marine mammals. Information from our work is used for population identification as a basis for management and protection decisions. Attendees at workshop gained more knowledge of harbor seal pup development. Attendees at workshop understood the nature of seal - aquaculture interactions. Attendees at workshop gained understanding of the structure of the Gulf of Maine Gray Seal Population. The new survey design will allow a reduction in the flying time necessary to complete a survey with little loss in precision. This will save money, time, and decrease exposure of personnel to risk. The National Marine Fisheries Service plans to issue an RFP for seal population estimation in New England that incorporates this design. Tissue samples from harbor seals were collected for genetic analysis to determine stock structure.

Publications

• Wood, Stephanie A., Solange Brault, and James R. Gilbert. 2007. 2002 Aerial Surveys of Grey Seals in the Northeastern United States. PP 117-122 in Grey Seals. North Atlantic Marine Mammal Conservation Organization. Copenhagen.
• Richmond, Julie P., J. Skinner, J Gilbert, L. M. Mazzaro, S. A. Zinn. 2008. Comparison of the somatotrophic axis in free-ranging and rehabilitated harbor seal pups (Phoca vitulina). J. Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 39(3): 342-348.
• Waring, Gordon T., James R. Gilbert, Amy Van Atten, and Rob DiGiovanni. 2009. A review of the status of harbor seals in the Northeast U.S. North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission Scientific Publication Series 9.
• Waring, G. Gilbert, J.R., Belden, D., Van Atten, A. and DiGiovanni Jr., R.A. 2010. A review of the status of harbour seals in the northeast USA. North American Marine Mammal Conservation Organization Scientific Publication Series. Copenhagen.
• Wood, S.A., T.R. Frasier, B.A. McLeod, J.R. Gilbert, B.N. White, W.D. Bowen, M.O. Hammill, G.T.Waring, and S. Brault. 2011. The genetics of recolonization: an analysis of the stock structure of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the northwest Atlantic. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 89:490-497.
• Friedland, Kevin D., James P. Manning, Jason S. Link, James R Gilbert, Andrew T Gilbert. 2011 (accepted).Environmental and biological factors affecting the survival of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, in the Gulf of Maine. Fisheries Management and Ecology.

Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Harbor seals were captured and radio-tagged in Cape Cod April 6-12, 2011 and in Penobscot Bay April 23 - 29 and May 6-10. Genetic samples were obtained for later analysis. Aerial surveys to count harbor seals were attempted May 24-29 but were aborted due to fog. Participated in New England Seal Research Coordination Workshop in Provincetown. While there, transferred seal research metadata to Northeast Fisheries Science Center of NOAA-Fisheries. Joined the New England Seal Research Consortium. PARTICIPANTS: James R. Gilbert: principal investigator Northeast Fisheries Science Center, NMFS, Protected Species Branch. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Riverhead Foundation International Fund For Animal Welfare New England Aquarium. Training: Young researchers were given training in seal capture and handling methods. TARGET AUDIENCES: Fishers in the Gulf of Maine believe seals damage gear and compete with them for the same fisheries resources. Knowledge about numbers, distributions, and movements influence selection of management options. Fishermen from Cape Cod were participants in the seal workshop noted above. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The seal survey will be attempted again in 2012 if funds are found to support the effort.

Impacts
As a result of gray seal genetic analyses, all gray seals in the Gulf of Maine, including those in Massachusetts, Maine, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, are considered one population. This knowledge will influence how management approaches problems of seal-fisheries interactions and shark attraction to seal resting sites.

Publications

• Wood, S.A., T.R. Frasier, B.A. McLeod, J.R. Gilbert, B.N. White, W.D. Bowen, M.O. Hammill, G.T.Waring, and S. Brault. 2011. The genetics of recolonization: an analysis of the stock structure of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the northwest Atlantic. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 89:490-497.
• Friedland, Kevin D., James P. Manning, Jason S. Link, James R Gilbert, Andrew T Gilbert. 2011 (accepted).Environmental and biological factors affecting the survival of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, in the Gulf of Maine. Fisheries Management and Ecology.

Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Invited Presentation: Status of Seals in US Atlantic Coastal Waters. May 2010. Northeast Marine Mammal Stranding Network Meeting, Bar Harbor, Maine. 100 people. Abstract and Poster: "An Increase in the Number of Gray Seal (Halichoerus grypus) Pups Observed in U.S. Waters between 1994 and 2008:Re-establishment of Former Pupping Sites." by Stephanie Wood and others, including J. Gilbert. 18th Biennial Conference, Society of Marine Mammalogy, Quebec CA Oct 2009 Abstract and Poster: "Characteristics of phocid seal bycatch in New England Fisheries," by Belden, Waring, Palka, Gilbert,and Van Atten. 18th Biennial Conference, Society of Marine Mammalogy, Quebec CA Oct 2009 PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Individuals, government agencies and non-governmental agencies with interests in the status of seals in the Gulf of Maine. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Require additional harbor seal tissue samples.

Impacts
Based on previous population and productivity work with harbor seals, stranding networks are not responding to all harbor seal pup strandings; saving resources for truly stranded marine mammals. Information from our work is used for population identification as a basis for management and protection decisions.

Publications

• Wood, Stephanie, Timothy Frasier, Brenna A. McLeod, James Gilbert, Bradley N. White, W. D. Bowen, Michael O. Hammill, Gordon Waring, and Solange Brault. 2010 Accepted. The genetics of recolonization: an analysis of grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) stock structure in the Northwest Atlantic. Canadian Journal of Zoology.
• Waring, G. Gilbert, J.R., Belden, D., Van Atten, A. and DiGiovanni Jr., R.A. 2010, in Press.. A review of the status of harbour seals in the northeast USA. North American Marine Mammal Conservation Organization Scientific Publication Series. Copenhagen.

Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Events: Gulf of Maine Seals - Populations, Problems, and Priorities. 27-29 May 2009, Woods Hole Massachusetts. 85 attendees. Three presentations at above Workshop. 1. Harbor Seals in the Gulf of Maine. 2. Interactions between harbor seals and Atlantic salmon Aquaculture in Maine. Marcy Nelson & James Gilbert. 3. U.S. Gray Seal Recolonization: Status and Stock Structure. Stephanie Wood, Tim Frasier, Brenna McLeod, Bradley White, W.Don Bowen, Mike Hammill, James Gilbert, Gordon Waring, & Solange Brault. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals Marcy Nelson, Maine Dept. Marine Resources. Stephanie Wood, U. Mass. Boston. Gordon Waring, NOAA FIsheries, Woods Hole. Solange Brault, U. Mass. Boston. Partner Organizations, Collaborators As above Opportunities for Training or Professional Development: Gulf of Maine Seals Workshop, Woods Hole Mass. May 2009 TARGET AUDIENCES: Target Audience - Marine Mammal Stranding Network personnel, gained knowledge of wild harbor seal pup development in NE. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Attendees at workshop gained more knowledge of harbor seal pup development. Attendees at workshop understood the nature of seal - aquaculture interactions. Attendees at workshop gained understanding of the structure of the Gulf of Maine Gray Seal Population.

Publications

• Chapter in Book Waring, Gordon T., James R. Gilbert, Amy Van Atten, and Rob DiGiovanni. 2009. A review of the status of harbor seals in the Northeast U.S. North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission Scientific Publication Series 9.

Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: 1. A cluster sample design has been completed to estimate numbers of harbor seals. It is in the process of being tested with previous data. PARTICIPANTS: James R. Gilbert, PI. Developed survey design for harbor seals. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
1. The new survey design will allow a reduction in the flying time necessary to complete a survey with little loss in precision. This will save money, time, and decrease exposure of personnel to risk. The National Marine Fisheries Service plans to issue an RFP for seal population estimation in New England that incorporates this design.

Publications

• Wood, Stephanie A., Solange Brault, and James R. Gilbert. 2007. 2002 Aerial Surveys of Grey Seals in the Northeastern United States. Chapter in Grey Seals. North Atlantic Marine Mammal Conservation Organization. Copenhagen.
• Richmond, Julie P., J. Skinner, J Gilbert, L. M. Mazzaro, S. A. Zinn. 2008. Comparison of the somatotrophic axis in free-ranging and rehabilitated harbor seal pups (Phoca vitulina). J. Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 39(3): 342-348.