SEA5 Harbour Seal Satellite Tracking Data from Orkney, Shetland and the Wash, 2003-2004

40 harbour seals were captured and satellite tagged between October 2003 and March 2004, with 30 in Orkney and Shetland and 10 in the Wash. Each seal was tracked for an average of 150 days, revealing foraging distances from 5 to 150 km. This report was produced for the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA5) by the UK Department of Trade and Industry.

Use Cases

• Model seal at-sea usage patterns based on movement data combined with aerial survey counts.
• Analyze individual variation in foraging behaviour based on tracking data from Orkney and Shetland.
• Compare consistent versus variable foraging ranges based on data from the Wash versus northern island groups.
• Predict population-level habitat use based on satellite tracking and haul-out survey information.

Strengths

• Data from 40 individually tracked seals provides a substantial sample for behavioral analysis.
• Average tracking duration of 150 days per seal offers longitudinal movement insights.
• Report contributes to a formal government Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA5), suggesting methodological rigor.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

Government Digital Service, originating from the UK Department of Trade and Industry (now Department of Energy and Climate Change).

Collection Method

Seals were captured and fitted with satellite tags; movement data was received from tags and combined with aerial survey counts at haul-outs.

Time Range

Data collected between October 2003 and March 2004.

Freshness

Data collection occurred in 2003-2004; last update is unknown.

Geography

Orkney, Shetland, and the Wash (UK coastal areas).