Ringed Seal Research Results 2012 Tagging
Results from the Summer of 2012:
Five SPLASH tags from animals tagged in 2011 reported through June of 2012, after which it is assumed that these tags were shed. The nine other SPLASH tags deployed reported for various shorter time periods. SPOT tags were reporting as of the first week of June 2012. It is unclear at this time if any SPOT tags are still functioning and attached to animals. Animals may not be hauling out for a long enough duration for tags to communicate with satellites based on current tag settings.
A total of 2 animals (SPOT and/or SPLASH) were tagged throughout the course of this study in summer of 2012 (1 adult female spotted seal, 1 juvenile male bearded seal). Both seals are known to be transmitting as of December 7, 2012. No ringed seals were tagged in this project for 2012 due to ice conditions and low ringed seal encounter rates.
A male, juvenile bearded seal was captured in a set net in Elson Lagoon near Plover Point on July 21, 2012. Taggers were Jason Herreman and Stacey Osborne.
Stacey Osborne and captured bearded seal
Above is a map of the movements of the bearded seal as of July 30, 2012
Above is a map of the movements of the bearded seal from capture on July 21st near Barrow to the current
A spotted seal was captured in a drifting tangle set net and tagged on August 9, 2012, near Tiny Island in Admiralty Bay, about 40 miles southeast of Barrow. This seal was tagged by Jason Herreman, Joe Skin and Isaac Leavitt.
Spotted Seal Tagging Crew: Isaac Leavitt and Joe Skin. Photo: Jason Herreman
Above is a map of the movements of the spotted seal from capture on August 9th in Admiralty Bay to the current location in the Bering Sea near Kuskokwim Bay (as of December 7, 2012)
Above is a map of the movements of the spotted seal from capture on August 9th in Admiralty Bay to the current location in the Bristol Bay (as of May 11, 2013) where it spent the winter
Above is a map of the movements of the spotted seal from capture on August 9th in Admiralty Bay to the current location (as of May 28, 2013). The seal has moved up towards Hooper Bay
