Satellite tracking of ringed seals Phoca hispida off northwest Greenland

Abstract

We monitored movements and haul‐out patterns of four ringed seals Phoca hispida, off Northwest Greenland between 5 June and 31 October 1988 using the Argos Data Collection and Location System When the seals were hauled out on fast ice their locations were accurately determined, but when they were at sea, few accurate locations were obtained, evidently because these seals spent little time at the surface between dives The seals remained within the fjord where they were tagged, and hauled out often to early July Thereafter, as fast‐ice disappeared, they dispersed widely and spent less time hauled out Time of day had no significant effect on haul‐out patterns Haul‐out periods declined significantly from June to August and increased in September‐October Satellite contact with one seal was lost after 16 d while the seal was still in the fjord in late June One seal travelled over 200 km southwest and was located 4 July in offshore waters of Smith Sound 30 d after instrumentation Another seal moved southeast along the Greenland coast where contact was lost after 49 d on 23 July The fourth seal moved north along the Greenland coast, hauled out regularly on ice, and returned south along the coast in late September and October after 181 d of contact with the satellite