The status of grey seals Halichoerus grypus in North Norway and on the Murman Coast, Russia

Abstract

The distribution and abundance of grey seals Halichoerus grypus were studied by aerial and ground surveys in North Norway and on the Murman coast, Russia, during the moulting (March–April) and breeding (October–December) seasons in 1986–1992. Numbers of grey seals may have increased throughout the area of investigation during the past 25–30 years. Based on observations of pup production, crude estimates of 900 and 3400 grey seals are suggested to inhabit colonies in Nordland county, North Norway and at the Murman coast, Russia, respectively. In Troms and Finnmark counties, North Norway, no reliable pup production estimates are available, but nearly 700 grey seals were observed at haul-out sites during the moulting period. Recorded moulting and breeding haul-out sites are noted for most of the study area.