Seal population in Lower Saxony: Stabilization through air counting!

Seal population in Lower Saxony: Stabilization through air counting!

A look at the North Sea shows good news: the seal population in Lower Saxony has stabilized. As the Buten and inland reported, the inventory will be recorded this year using two small aircraft. A total of ten flights are planned until mid-August to precisely monitor the population.

These annual counts are part of an international seal protection agreement that also includes the neighboring countries of Schleswig-Holstein, Denmark and the Netherlands. A look at the numbers shows that 8,550 seals were counted in 2022, while in 2023 the number rose to 8,912.

Historical development of the seal count

The systematic recording of the seal population in Lower Saxony has a long tradition. The animals have been counted since 1958, first from ships and then from the air from 1972. We would like to point out that the Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES) has been coordinating monitoring since 2005. The goal throughout the years has been to get a handle on the decline in numbers that occurred in the 1960s.

Thanks to international agreements such as the Bern Convention of 1979, seal hunting has been banned in Lower Saxony since 1971, which has led to some recovery in the population.

Counting under special conditions

A key aspect of the count is that it is carried out during low tide, when seals are resting on dry berths. The flights take place in the months from May to September, a period that also includes the birth and rearing of the young. This strategic planning is important to capture the most accurate data possible, such as Lower Saxony state government emphasized.

The counts are also part of the Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Program (TMAP), which coordinates the data and provides valuable information to protect stocks in the long term.

Costs and support

By the way, the financial expenses for the counting flights are covered by the Lower Saxony state budget, which keeps costs down primarily thanks to the support of volunteer hunters. Those involved not only have a good knack for counting, but also for using resources responsibly.

Overall, it can be seen that the seal population in Lower Saxony is on a positive path. Considering previously experienced crises, such as the massive decline due to seal distemper in the 1980s and 2000s, this stabilization is a sign of successful environmental protection measures and a genuine commitment to our animal companions.