SHARK - National marine environmental monitoring of Seal pathology in Sweden

Study Extent

Monitoring program

Sampling

Information about the program and the methods are available in Swedish at the website of the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management https://www.havochvatten.se/vagledning-foreskrifter-och-lagar/vagledningar/ovriga-vagledningar/overvakningsmanualer-for-miljoovervakning/overvakningsmanualer/patologi-hos-grasal-vikaresal-och-knubbsal.html

Method steps

1. Seal pathology using necropsy and histopathological findings of dead seals has been monitored in and around Swedish coasts since 2008.
2. This monitoring program is focused toward determining the health status of seal populations via autopsies of animals that are collected and sent to the Swedish Museum of Natural History. In addition, the program is also aimed for finding and measuring potentially harmful substances in biota.
3. Sampling provides information to describe the cause of death among seals.

1. Chordata
   rank: phylum
2. Mammalia
   rank: class
3. Carnivora
   rank: order
4. Phocidae
   rank: family
5. Animalia
   rank: kingdom

Data are collected within the following marine ecoregions: http://marineregions.org/mrgid/2401, http://marineregions.org/mrgid/2374, http://marineregions.org/mrgid/2379