The grey seal, Halichoerus grypus (Fabricius), in Rogaland, Norway
Abstract
Surveys of grey seals in Rogaland, southwestern Norway, are reviewed. The highest numbers of
adult seals have been observed in the spring, while far less are generally observed during the
breeding season in the autumn. Pupping has been recorded, but it is rare in relation to the number
of seals observed in the spring. The nearest breeding site of grey seals in Norway is at Froan,
about 680 km to the north. The southernmost recovery of pups tagged at Froan is about 300 km
north of the pupping sites in Rogaland. There are many recoveries in western Norway of grey seal
pups tagged in Great Britain. There is, however, no information suggesting that British seals are
being recruited to Norwegian breeding stocks or are establishing new breeding colonies on the
Norwegian coast. It is reasonable to assume that most of the grey seals found in Rogaland in the
spring are British and return to Britain in the breeding season. It is not known whether the
recorded breedings in Rogaland are stragglers from British colonies or relate to a local stock.
Publisher
[Fiskeridirektoratets havforskningsinstitutt]Series
Fiskeridirektoratets skrifter, Serie Havundersøkelservol 18 no 6