8 July 2019
Starts: 19:30
Ends: 22:00

In the last decade harbour seal numbers on the east coast of Scotland and in the Northern Islands have declined by up to 85%.  In contrast, numbers in West Scotland and the Western Isles have remained stable or increased. The Harbour Seal Decline Project, led by a research team at the Sea Mammal Research Unit,  was commissioned by the Scottish Government to address possible reasons behind the decline. The main tasks are to estimate the vital rates (pregnancy, birth and death) of seals in regions with contrasting population trajectories, and to investigate the drivers for any changes in these population vital rates. I will be presenting a summary of initial findings and an update on how the field season is going in Orkney this summer. Come along for a bit of a seal chat!

£1 members, £2 non-members

7.30pm Friends Room, St Magnus Centre, Kirkwall