Harbour Seal

Phoca vitulina

General Status Rank: 
Vagrant
ELCODE: 
AMAJG01010
Common Name: 
Harbour Seal
Scientific Name: 
Phoca vitulina
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Mammal (Marine Mammal)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Mammalia
Order: 
Carnivora
Family: 
Phocidae
References: 
B001
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

3-7 years
References: 
R042
BSC2

Longevity

max 30 years
References: 
R042
BSC2

Economic/Human Considerations

nuisance to the fishing trade, hunted by Inuit
References: 
B001
H135
Habitat
coastal waters (bays, harbours, coastal rivers) about 10 miles off land
References: 
B001
H135
Distribution

Ecozones

Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean
References: 
BSC1

Distribution

Score: 
G
Marine Distribution Description: 
0.09

Number of Occurrences

Less than 20;
Score: 
B
References: 
H135
R245

Area of Occupancy

possibly declining in Nunavut
Score: 
-
References: 
H135
Population

Population Size

rare but numbers not known; eastern (NU) population more than 40 000 (early 1990s)
Score: 
F
References: 
H135
BSC2
Trends

Trends

possibly increasing?; but possibly decreasing (Nunavut)
References: 
H135
Threats

Threats

culling, oil spills, toxin accumulation, fishery mortalities
References: 
R042

Intrinsic Vulnerability

hydro development (Hudson Bay)
Score: 
-
References: 
R042
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Vagrant
Status Rank Description: 
Status for NWT only
S Rank: 
SNA
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Lois Harwwod DFO Inuvik, sent to Nat in Oct. 2000; Modified based on e-mail from Yukon (T Jung), in 6 Jan 2006.; Reviewed in 2010; no change;Reviewed in 2015; no change; Reviewed in 2020, no change
Last Updated: 
June 13, 2020
Status Designations

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
Data Deficient
References: 
R042

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Baird RW (1998) Status of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) DRAFT 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R042 Return
  • Wilson, Don. E and Ruff, S. (eds) (1999) The Smithsonian book of North American mammals. UBC Press 750 pp. RWED Library Call#QL715.S64 - BSC2 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return
COSEWIC Status
  • Baird RW (1998) Status of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) DRAFT 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R042 Return

Economic Status

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return
  • Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return

Ecozones

  • Forsyth, Adrian (1999) Mammals of North America Temperate and Arctic Regions. Firefly Books RWED Library Call#QL715.F67 - BSC1 Return

Habitat

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return
  • Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Baird RW (1998) Status of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) DRAFT 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R042 Return

Longevity

  • Baird RW (1998) Status of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) DRAFT 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R042 Return
  • Wilson, Don. E and Ruff, S. (eds) (1999) The Smithsonian book of North American mammals. UBC Press 750 pp. RWED Library Call#QL715.S64 - BSC2 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return
  • Stirling, I, Archibald, R. DeMaster, D. (1975) Beaufort Sea Technical Report #1 http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/49574.pdf - R245 Return

Population Size

Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return
,
Wilson, Don. E and Ruff, S. (eds) (1999) The Smithsonian book of North American mammals. UBC Press 750 pp. RWED Library Call#QL715.S64 - BSC2 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Sue Cosens (2000) Pers. communication. Arctic Stock Assessment Section, DFO Science Directorate - H135 Return

Taxonomy

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Threats

  • Baird RW (1998) Status of harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) DRAFT 1999 COSEWIC meeting binder (Suzanne's Office) - R042 Return