We conduct research on Alaska harbor seal population abundance and trends, a priority for the Alaska Fisheries Science Center since the 1980s. We are required to conduct this research under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, which established a national policy to prevent marine mammal populations from declining beyond the point where they cease to be significant functioning elements of the ecosystem. Our long-term datasets, combined with satellite telemetry studies of movement and behavior and new statistical techniques, enable us to estimate abundance and trends for the 12 recognized stocks of harbor seals in Alaska.
