Historical population assessment of Barents Sea harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus)

Abstract

Harp seals are an important component of the Barents Sea ecosystem. Population size is estimated to have been around 6 million seals in 1875, when large-scale exploitation by Norwegian and Russian hunters started. The estimate is obtained by fitting a population dynamics model to all available sources of data on Barents Sea harp seals, but because of a lack of information about several key parameters in the model, the uncertainty associated with the estimate is large. A sensitivity study involving three different mechanisms for density-dependence results in a range estimate of 3-7 million seals in 1875. © 2007 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Published by Oxford Journals. All rights reserved.