Research Document - 2010/130
Feeding of Grey Seals in Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence
By M.O. Hammill
Abstract
Diet composition of grey seals in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence was examined using identification of otoliths recovered from 470 digestive tracts. Forty-six different prey taxa were identified. Grey seals fed mainly on sandlance, herring, hake, winter flounder. Cod was an important prey in both the western Gulf and the eastern Gulf, but was only a minor prey item in the Northumberland Strait area. Males consumed a slightly greater number of species, showed greater diet diversity and equal consumption across prey items than did females and young of the year (<6 months old). Cod was an important prey item for males in some areas, but was much less important to females. The mean length of cod consumed was 23.8 cm (SD=11, N=94).
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