1985 Alaska Fur Seal Investigations

July 01, 1985

In 1985, the United States, Canada, Japan, and the Soviet Union cooperatively carried out research on the northern fur seal, Callorhinus ursinus, on land and at sea. Scientists from the National Marine Mammal Laboratory (NMML) in Seattle, Washington, have routinely conducted annual surveys and studies on U.S. islands under terms of the Interim Convention on the Conservation of North Pacific Fur Seals. Although this Convention lapsed in October of 1984, studies have continued annually by former member nations. In particular, studies have been conducted on the Pribilof Islands and Bogoslof Island in Alaska and San Miguel Island off southern California where fur seals breed and haul out. This report summarizes the research carried out on these islands in 1984 and 1985.