Living in the Baltic Sea

Habitat
The Baltic Grey Seal used to be established in the whole Baltic Sea. Now they are found mainly in the northern part. They prefer rocky coastal areas. During non-mating season many young seals spend time at removed beaches, but they usually return to the rocky coasts. Some live together in flocks the whole year. They move rather clumsily on land but are extremely dexterous in water.
Food
The main food is fish in some rare cases they will eat crustaceans or birds. Grey Seals are known to dive regularly to about 30-70 m to find food. The average daily food requirement is estimated to be 5 kg, though the seal does not feed every day and it fasts during the breeding season.

Reproduction
Age: Female 5 years old, males 6 years old
Season: Spring
Number of pups: 1-2

During the four- to six-week-long breeding period, they will get together in small flocks, with an average of 6 females and 1 male in each group. In larger groups there might be more males, each male with their own group of females. It usually takes around 4 years before a male has established his group of females. Fights between the males are rare. The mating starts around 2 weeks after the female have quit breast-feeding the young seals. The female carries the babies for 11 months. Baby seals are nursed for 2-3 weeks.

Human impact and Status
Grey Seals are top predators and fish eating mammals and their health condition reflects the state of the Baltic environment. The Baltic Grey Seals have been suffering from various health defects during the last decades, which have been associated with the deterioration of the general status of the Baltic Sea.

In the 1980's there were only 2 000-3 000 Grey Seals in the Baltic Sea. Besides hunting has diminished the population and pollution has lead to trouble with reproduction. In the year 2000 the number reached 15 500. In 2009 the number of Grey Seals in the Baltic Sea was estimated to about 20 000.

The Grey Seal has been important economically and hunted for their fur in the past, now there are restrictions on hunting Seal. The newly growing numbers of Grey Seals have become a threat to the commercial fishing, most affected are the Finnish and Swedish fishermen. The Seals eat fish from the fishing equipment and also harm the equipment. Grey Seals are protected by the Conservation of Seals Act, but individuals causing damage to fishing nests can legally be killed. CLOSE