Health status of stranded harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in the Netherlands

Despite their robust numbers, our understanding of the health status of the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) population in the Dutch Waddenzee is surprisingly limited. Understanding the health of these marine mammals is essential for assessing the overall ecosystem health and identifying potential threats to their survival. Recent years have witnessed a concerning decline in harbour seal population numbers, diverging from the sustained growth observed until 2012. Concurrently, the number of pups has shown an upward trend, complicating our understanding of these population dynamics. The underlying drivers of these fluctuations remain elusive. Conducting postmortem examinations on harbour seals is crucial for gaining insight into their health, welfare, and the factors influencing their survival. This research project aims to obtain a better understanding of anthropogenic and natural threats, and their implications, for the population of harbour seals in Dutch waters. There will be specific attention to the recent decline in population numbers, in order to determine underlying causes. Furthermore, particular attention will be directed towards lungworms, widely recognised pathogens in these species, with speculation suggesting their potential role as causative agents in the observed decline of this population.

Contact 
Nadiah van Eijk