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Abundance estimate of northwest Atlantic harp seals, Pagophilus groenlandicus, and harvest advice for 2025-2029 / Joanie Van de Walle, M. Tim. Tinker, Shelley L.C. Lang, G.B. Stenson, and Mike O. Hammill.: Fs70-5/2025-070E-PDF

"The Northwest Atlantic (NWA) harp seal population is harvested for commercial and subsistence purposes in Canada and Greenland, and is caught incidentally in commercial fisheries. A new pup production survey in 2022 estimated total pup production at 614,100, the lowest estimate since 1994. Stock status is estimated using a Bayesian Integrated Population Model (IPM) which incorporates periodic estimates of pup production along with updated data on age composition, age-specific reproductive rates, total removals, and environmental conditions. Based on the IPM, NWA harp seal abundance increased rapidly from the 1970s through the 1990s, peaking at an estimated abundance of 7.5 million seals (95% Credible Interval, CrI: 6.75-8.42) in 1998. The population declined from 1998-2024 with the exception of a period of relative stability between 2009-2019. The estimated 2024 total abundance was 4.4 million seals (95% CrI: 3.65-5.35). This represents a decline in abundance from 2019 (5.6 million, 95% CrI: 4.78-6.63) at a rate of 4.7% (95% CrI: 2.14-7.45%) per year. …"--Abstract, page v.

Permanent link to this Catalogue record:
publications.gc.ca/pub?id=9.956359&sl=0

Publication information
Department/Agency
  • Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, issuing body.
  • Canada. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. National Capital Region, issuing body.
TitleAbundance estimate of northwest Atlantic harp seals, Pagophilus groenlandicus, and harvest advice for 2025-2029 / Joanie Van de Walle, M. Tim. Tinker, Shelley L.C. Lang, G.B. Stenson, and Mike O. Hammill.
Series title
  • Research document, 1919-5044 ; 2025/070
Publication typeMonograph - View Master Record
Language[English]
Other language editions[French]
FormatDigital text
Electronic document
Note(s)
  • Issued also in French under title: Estimation d'abondance pour le phoque du Groenland de l'Atlantique Nord-Ouest (Pagophilus groenlandicus) et avis sur la récolte pour 2025-2029.
  • Includes bibliographical references.
Publishing information
  • Ottawa ON : Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS), November 2025.
  • ©2025
Author / Contributor
  • Van De Walle, Joanie, author.
Description1 online resource (v, 56 pages) : illustrations (chiefly colour), colour map.
ISBN9780660793498
Catalogue number
  • Fs70-5/2025-070E-PDF
Subject terms
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