Interactions between seals and salmon fisheries in Tana River and Tanafjord, Finnmark, North Norway, and possible consequences for the harbour seal Phoca vitulina
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Abstract
In the 1820’s, a relatively large harbour seal population may have inhabited the Tana River Estuary. Due to heavy persecution, especially in the 1920’s and 1930’s, it was reduced dramatically, and today there are probably less than 40 individuals left. There are few interactions between harbour seals and the salmon fishery in the river, most likely because of
the low population size. Only 17 % of the fishermen questioned, reported harbour seals drowned in fishing nets in the river. The salmon fishermen in Tanafjord reported more interactions, most often with the grey seal, but neither harbour nor harp seal interactions were uncommon. During an experiment using bag nets, 16 % of the salmon caught showed scarring from seal attacs.
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