The Davis Strait - DCE - Nationalt Center for Miljø og Energi

Figure 4.8.3. Distribution of the
West Atlantic hooded seals.
Numbers are the approximate
number of seals associated with
each of the three West Atlantic
breeding areas in 2005.
128
120°W
60°N
50°N
40°N
60°W
110°W
40,000
100°W
20,000
90°W
50°W
70°W
540,000
The total hooded seal pup production in the Northwest Atlantic (around
Newfoundland and in Davis Strait) was estimated to be 116,900 (SE = 7,918,
CV = 6.8%) in 2005. This corresponds to a total population of about 592,100
seals (SE=94,800; 95% C.I.= 404,400-779,800) (ICES 2006).
In 1984 the pup production in Davis Strait was estimated to be 19,000
(14,000-23,000) (Bowen et al. 1987), but the estimate in 2005 was only 3,346
(SE = 2,237, CV = 66.8%) (ICES 2006). This change is not believed to reflect a
change in overall population size, but merely a shift in distribution, as the
hooded seals that whelp near Newfoundland and in Davis Strait are considered
to be animals from the same population.
Conservation status: The West Atlantic hooded seals are listed as of Least
Concern (LC) on the Greenland Red List. The seals are managed internationally
through a working group under ICES and NAFO and catches are sustainable
(ICES 2006).
50°W
30°W
10°W
40°W
0°
10°E
20°E
70°N
60°N
50°N
Breeding area (March - April)
Moulting area (June - July)
April - June
July - March
0 495 990 Km
30°W