Harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 11
Technical Summary – Phoca vitulina concolor
Phoca vitulina concolor
Harbour seal Atlantic and eastern Arctic subspecies – Phoque commun de la sous-espèce de l’Atlantique et de l‘est de l’Arctique
Range of Occurrence in Canada:
Nunavut, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova-Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean
Extent and Area Information
Extent of occurrence (EO) (km²) :
~ 270,000 km²
Specify trend in EO :
Unknown
Are there extreme fluctuations in EO?
No
Area of occupancy (AO) (km²) :
Unknown
Specify trend in AO :
Unknown
Are there extreme fluctuations in AO?
No
Number of known or inferred current locations :
Unknown
Specify trend in # :
Unknown
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of locations?
No
Specify trend in area, extent or quality of habitat :
Unknown
Population Information
Generation time (average age of parents in the population) :
9 years
Number of mature individuals :
Unknown but total population size is likely greater than 10,000.
Total population trend:
Unknown
% decline over the last/next 10 years or 3 generations.
Unknown
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of mature individuals?
No
Is the total population severely fragmented?
No
Specify trend in number of populations :
Not available
Are there extreme fluctuations in number of populations?
No
List populations with number of mature individuals in each:
Unknown
Threats (actual or imminent threats to populations or habitats)
- hunting and incidental killing
- human disturbance
Rescue Effect (immigration from an outside source)
Status of outside population(s)?
Some growing, some declining
Is immigration known or possible?
Yes
Would immigrants be adapted to survive in Canada?
Yes
Is there sufficient habitat for immigrants in Canada?
Yes
Is rescue from outside populations likely?
Yes
Quantitative Analysis
Not available
Current Status
- COSEWIC: Indeterminate (data deficient) (April 1999)
- NatureServe: Not Ranked
Status and Reasons for Designation
Status: Not at Risk
Alpha-numeric code: Not applicable
Reasons for Designation: The total population has not been estimated, and analyses have not yet been undertaken to determine whether there is significant subpopulation structure. Overall the subspecies is common and believed to be adaptable to change. It is often found in marine areas used by people and is susceptible to shooting. No serious immediate threat have been identified over any substantial part of its range.
Applicability of Criteria
- Criterion A: (Declining total population). Population size is unknown, and there is no evidence of a significant decline in numbers.
- Criterion B: (Declining total population). Population size is unknown, and there is no evidence of a significant decline in numbers.
- Criterion C: (Small total population size and decline). There is no information about population trends. Number of mature individuals is unknown, but total population likely exceeds 10,000.
- Criterion D: (Very small population or restricted distribution). The distribution is not restricted and the mature population exceeds 1,000 animals.
- Criterion E: (Quantitative analysis). None has been undertaken.
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