11929855Edited by MartynC.100015562layer_information_pageund1531920390157009707200157009707255<p>There is an ongoing programme of summer, harbour seal moult surveys of the Scottish coast where in addition grey seal presence is recorded, commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage in collaboration with the Sea Mammal Research Unit at the University of St Andrews.</p> <p>There are two layers displayed:</p> <ol> <li>Seals - SMRU coordinated summer counts of Harbour seals (<em>Phoca vitulina</em>) in period 2011 to 2015 (SNH WMS)</li> <li>Seals - SMRU coordinated summer counts/distribution of Grey seals (<em>Halichoerus grypus</em>) in period 2011 to 2015 (SNH WMS)</li> </ol> <p>Surveys of harbour and grey seals are carried out annually in August.&nbsp; By surveying a different area each year, over a 5 year period the whole area of interest is surveyed.&nbsp; The August 2015 survey completed the last round Scotland survey.</p> full_html<p>There is an ongoing programme of summer, harbour seal moult surveys of the Scottish coast where in addition grey seal presence is recorded, commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage in collaboration with the Sea Mammal Research Unit at the University of St Andrews.</p> <p>There are two layers displayed:</p> <ol> <li>Seals - SMRU coordinated summer counts of Harbour seals (<em>Phoca vitulina</em>) in period 2011 to 2015 (SNH WMS)</li> <li>Seals - SMRU coordinated summer counts/distribution of Grey seals (<em>Halichoerus grypus</em>) in period 2011 to 2015 (SNH WMS)</li> </ol> <p>Surveys of harbour and grey seals are carried out annually in August.  By surveying a different area each year, over a 5 year period the whole area of interest is surveyed.  The August 2015 survey completed the last round Scotland survey.</p> 351968855SMRU coordianted summer counts of Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in period 2011 to 2015public://seals_-_smru_coordianted_summer_counts_of_harbour_seals_phoca_vitulina_in_period_2011_to_2015.pngimage/png27947311531920216imageSMRU coordianted summer counts of Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in period 2011 to 2015SMRU coordianted summer counts of Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in period 2011 to 2015SMRU coordianted summer counts of Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in period 2011 to 2015 © SMRU / Marine ScotlandSMRU coordianted summer counts of Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in period 2011 to 2015 © SMRU / Marine Scotland<_drafty_revision_requested>FIELD_LOAD_CURRENTSMRU coordianted summer counts of Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in period 2011 to 2015480600480600817<p>The Shetland survey was the first in six years, and the number of harbour seals counted in 2015 (3,369 seals) differed little from 2009 (3,039 seals).</p> <p>In south-west Scotland, harbour seals have increased in number since they were last counted. In 2014 and 2015, 7,645 seals were recorded, compared with 5,930 seals in 2007 and 2009. This scale of increase has been observed in harbour seal populations all along the west coast of Scotland.</p> <p>Numbers on the east coast remain very depressed. Only 60 harbour seals were counted in the Firth of Tay – around 10% of the number recorded in 1997. The 2015 survey counted 745 seals in the Moray Firth. Though this was very similar to the figure recorded in 2007 and 2009 (776 seals), it was just over half the 1997 figure (1,409 seals).</p> <p>Grey seals were counted at the same time. Their numbers across the survey locations varied hugely, but the figures do show the distribution of grey seals around the coast at this time of the year.&nbsp; Biannual grey seal pup surveys are also carried out at a small number of key breeding sites in October to December.</p> full_html<p>The Shetland survey was the first in six years, and the number of harbour seals counted in 2015 (3,369 seals) differed little from 2009 (3,039 seals).</p> <p>In south-west Scotland, harbour seals have increased in number since they were last counted. In 2014 and 2015, 7,645 seals were recorded, compared with 5,930 seals in 2007 and 2009. This scale of increase has been observed in harbour seal populations all along the west coast of Scotland.</p> <p>Numbers on the east coast remain very depressed. Only 60 harbour seals were counted in the Firth of Tay – around 10% of the number recorded in 1997. The 2015 survey counted 745 seals in the Moray Firth. Though this was very similar to the figure recorded in 2007 and 2009 (776 seals), it was just over half the 1997 figure (1,409 seals).</p> <p>Grey seals were counted at the same time. Their numbers across the survey locations varied hugely, but the figures do show the distribution of grey seals around the coast at this time of the year.  Biannual grey seal pup surveys are also carried out at a small number of key breeding sites in October to December.</p> 1555915561158041580515565155644555917sioc:Itemfoaf:Documentdc:datedc:createdxsd:dateTimedate_iso8601dc:modifiedxsd:dateTimedate_iso8601content:encodedsioc:has_creatorrelfoaf:namesioc:num_repliesxsd:integersioc:last_activity_datexsd:dateTimedate_iso8601https://marine.gov.scot/?q=information/seals-smru-coordinated-summer-countsdistribution-grey-seals-and-harbour-seals-2011-2015MartynC0a:6:{s:7:"overlay";i:1;s:16:"ckeditor_default";s:1:"t";s:20:"ckeditor_show_toggle";s:1:"t";s:14:"ckeditor_width";s:4:"100%";s:13:"ckeditor_lang";s:2:"en";s:18:"ckeditor_auto_lang";s:1:"t";}11108911929815562publishedpublished55157009707211157009707211108911929815562publishedpublished55157009707211157009707211108911929815562publishedpublished551570097072111570097072