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NMFS Permit No. 775-1600-10 |
Lisa Sette, Seal Program director, is studying haul-out sights of gray and harbor seals at Jeremy Point, Chatham Harbor and Monomoy Island. In the field, Sette reaches the seals by boat or by foot, and records the general composition of the haul-outs using a digital camera and a hand-held GPS unit. Sette says, "I'm trying to answer questions about the general structure of seal haul-outs and how that structure may change seasonally and over time." At the same time, Sette keeps an eye out for animals that have unique markings, whether its pelage (hair) color and pattern, unique scars, brands, or entanglements. She adds, "By capturing these animals in a photograph, it's possible that I will be able to recognize or "recapture" them again and create a picture of local or even long-distance movements of this population."
Back at the lab, Sette downloads photographs and archives written data. She has already learned things from her first field season. Sette explains a recent finding, "I'm seeing quite a substantial number of seals entangled in different types of material, and I can identify these animals by the particulars of their entanglement," she said. The importance of this work is that it may provide answers to more questions, for instance when looking at entangled seals as a group, Sette hopes to learn if there is a particular age class or a sex that is more likely to be entangled.
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NMFS Permit No. 775-1600-10 |
Scientists have seen a great ascension in the gray seal population throughout Nantucket Sound, Cape Cod Bay and Buzzards Bay since the 1980s. Sette adds, "Because of the rise in seal population throughout New England, human interactions with the seals are on the rise, too - with beachgoers, homeowners, dog walkers, surfers, fishermen and others. To me, this makes for an interesting place to begin work."
NOTE: Please be a responsible seal watcher. Remain 50 yards away from seals at all times. Seals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
To report violations of the MMPA or seal harassment, contact NMFS Enforcement 1-800-853-1964
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Research Projects
A pilot study is investigating the movements and site fidelity of North Atlantic gray seals is underway at the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies. Using mark-recapture analysis based on photographic identification of individuals, seals will be photographed at haul-out sites on Monomoy Island, Chatham Harbor and Jeremy Point, Wellfleet. Profile photographs of the head and neck, unique pelage patterns, scars, wounds, brands and entanglements will be used to match individual animals.
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