International consortium investigates mystery surrounding Wadden Sea harbour seal population
The population of harbour seals has been declining in the Wadden Sea for several years, despite high numbers of counted pups. The pups do not seem to become members of the adult population when grown. From the limited data available, it has not yet been possible to identify the underlying drivers of this change. A two-year research project on understanding harbour seal population dynamics in the Dutch part of the Wadden Sea has now started. The collaboration between several national and international researchers, led by the Coastal & Marine Systems lectorate at Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, is commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN). The Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS) ensures linking the project with the trilateral cooperation.
By bringing together research, policy, management, education and public engagement, this project aims to improve the understanding and, hence, protection of harbour seals in the Wadden Sea region. Researchers will collate available information and gather expert opinions to assess the most plausible causes of the decline of Wadden Sea harbour seal numbers as well as to make recommendations for seal monitoring that can inform future, more in-depth analysis. Led by principal researcher David Goldsborough and his team, the project further provides a valuable learning environment for students, contributing to data collation, behavioural research, and literature studies, granting crucial insights for seal population management and monitoring in an international context.
The project is funded by Regieorgaan SIA, part of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). It includes a wide range of partners: within the Netherlands, Hogeschool Van Hall Larenstein, Aeres Hogeschool and Utrecht University collaborate with the seal sanctuaries: aSeal Stellendam, Pieterburen and Ecomare. It also collaborates with Observation International, known for platforms such as stranding.nl and waarneming.nl, to improve monitoring and involve the public in data collection. Wageningen Marine Research (WUR) provides scientific support and there is close cooperation with LVVN and Rijkswaterstaat. CWSS forms the link to partners in Germany and Denmark.