Research Document - 2009/103

Estimating pup production of Northwest Atlantic Harp Seals, (Pagophilus groenlandicus): Results of the 2008 surveys

By G.B. Stenson, M.O. Hammill and J.W. Lawson

Abstract

Photographic and visual aerial surveys to determine current pup production of Northwest Atlantic harp seals were conducted off Newfoundland and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence during March 2008. Surveys of 5 whelping concentrations were conducted between 1 and 16 March resulting in estimated pup production of 287,000 (SE=27,600, CV 9.6%) in the Southern Gulf and 176,800 (SE=22,800, CV=12.9%) in the Northern Gulf (rounding to the nearest hundred). A small concentration at the Front was estimated to contain 23,400 (SE=5,500, CV=23.5%) pups. The visual survey of the Main concentration at the Front resulted in an estimated pup production of 589,400 (SE=49,500, CV=8.4%) while a photographic survey estimated 1,161,600 (SE=112,300, CV=9.7%) pups. Using the photographic estimate of the Main concentration resulted in an estimate of total pup production in 2008 of 1,648,800 (SE=118,000, CV=7.2%); using the visual estimate for the Main patch resulted in an estimate pup production of 1,076,600 (SE=61,300, CV=5.7%).

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