Monitor Harbor Seal Populations and Assess Vessel Impacts
Tetreau M. 2000. Monitor Harbor Seal Populations and Assess Vessel Impacts. Seward, AK
The population of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) along coast of Kenai Fjords National Park and neighboring areas has declined dramatically in the last twenty years. In 1980 over 1,600 seals were counted at the head of Aialik Bay and in 1998 less than 300 animals were counted in the same area. The exact causes for this regional decline remain unknown, although a regime shift in the marine ecosystem is thought to be a primary factor. While vessel disturbance of seals at the haulout areas did not cause the population crash, it may be a contributing factor that furthers stresses the weakened population. Numerous tour boats bring hundreds of visitors to these waters daily and tens of thousands annually to view these mammals in their environments along the park coast.
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Authors
- Tetreau, Michael
- Date of Issue
- 2000-12
- Units
- KEFJ
- Keywords
- Aialik Bay, Harbor Seals, Mammals, Marine Mammals, McCarty fjord, Phoca vitulina, population disturbance