Aerial surveys of Harbour Seals in the Wadden Sea in 2017

Population counts still in stagnation, but more pups than ever

In 2017, coordinated aerial surveys for harbour seal counts of the entire Wadden Sea were once again carried out. However since this year Denmark has reduced the number of harbour seal counts from five to three planned counts. The counts are synchronized to the degree possible between the three Wadden Sea countries, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands, in order to obtain a single estimate for the number of harbour seals and newborn pups in the entire Wadden Sea. Seals are counted when hauling out on land and counts are scheduled to be carried out when low-tide occurs around midday.

Authors: Anders Galatius, Sophie Brasseur, Richard Czeck, Armin Jeß, Peter Körber, Ralf Pund, Ursula Siebert, Jonas Teilmann, Sascha Klöpper