Abstract
Abstract Seal interference with Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) aquaculture cages is a financial burden to the industry. Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) on haul-out sites along portions of the New Brunswick coastline of the Bay of Fundy, Canada, were counted during the autumn and early winter of 1998. Semi-monthly aerial and shipboard surveys were conducted when low tide occurred in the afternoon. The maximum number of seals counted (1032) and the rate of population decline (6.7 per day) were similar to those reported in 1984 and 1987. The average number of seals per group (35.8 ± 39.9) did not change over the season but fewer groups occurred in early winter. The seals vacated some areas which coincidentally contained Atlantic salmon aquaculture cage sites. Similar movements were observed 11 and 14 years previously, before the cage sites were established. Harbor seals are not attracted to areas containing aquaculture cage sites.
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