Research Brief: 2022 Vessel-Based Studies of Ice-Associated Seals
March 11, 2022
The research will be based off of the NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson and will operate at the southern edge of the marginal ice zone in the Alaskan waters of the Bering Sea.
Who is conducting the research?
Researchers from NOAA Fisheries’ Alaska Fisheries Science Center, The Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies, SeaWorld Orlando, and Kawerak Inc.
Where is the research being conducted?
The research will be based off of the NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson and will operate at the southern edge of the marginal ice zone in the Alaskan waters of the Bering Sea. The location of the sea ice varies year-to-year, making it difficult to predict where the research will be conducted, but in most years operations are located west of St. Matthew Island.
What is the research objective?
Researchers will capture ribbon and spotted seals on the sea ice where they are hauled out using hand-held nets. Biologists will collect morphometrics, blood and other tissue samples from the seals, and attach satellite-linked data recorders (SDRs) before releasing them.