The Status of Pinnipeds in the Newfoundland Region G. B. Stenson Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre P. O. Box 5667, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada A1C 5X1 Abstract In order to determine the potential impact of seals on commercial fish stocks in the Northwest Atlantic, it is necessary to have accurate estimates of the abundance of each species. Recent information on the abundance and catches of harp ( Phoca groenlandica), hooded ( Cystophora cristata), grey ( Halichoerus grypus), harbour ( Phoca vitulina), ringed ( Phoca hispida) and bearded ( Erignathus barbatus) seals is summarized. The most recent (1990) estimates of pup production for harp and hooded seals are 577 900 (S.E. = 38 800; Northwest Atlantic) and 82 182 (S.E. = 12 636; Newfoundland only), respectively. This rep- resents total populations of approximately 3.1 million (range 2.7–3.5 million) harp seals and 400 000–450 000 hooded seals. No estimates are available for the abundance of other seal species in the Newfoundland area. Key words : Abundance, catch, harp, hooded, ringed, Newfoundland, seals Introduction Six species of seals are present in Newfound- land waters; harp ( Phoca groenlandica ), hooded ( Cystophora cristata), grey ( Halichoerus grypus), harbour ( Phoca vitulina), ringed ( Phoca hispida) and bearded ( Erignathus barbatus) seals. With the recent decline in commercial groundfish stocks in the Northwest Atlantic (Sinclair, 1993), considerable debate has been focused on the potential impact of these seals on fish populations. Much of this de- bate has centred on the numbers of seals present. For example, various media reports place the number of harp seals in 1990 between 3 and 8 mil- lion. Also, all seal species are often grouped to- gether, ignoring species differences in abundance, population growth rate and diet. Much of the public discussion on the role of seals in the Northwest At- lantic ecosystem which has taken place has been based on unsubstantiated and often, contradictory reports. This report attempts to review some recent in- formation of these seals and provide a summary of their status. Harp Seals In the Northwest Atlantic, harp seals whelp in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and off the coast of south- ern Labrador or northeastern Newfoundland (‘Front’) (Fig. 1). Although seals from both areas mix in the Canadian Arctic or Greenland during the summer, they are thought to exhibit some site fidelity during the whelping and breeding periods. The most re- cent estimate of pup production were made in 1990 NAFO Sci. Coun. Studies, 21: 115–119 based on a combination of photographic and visual aerial surveys (Stenson et al ., 1993). An estimated 467 200 (S.E. = 31 200) pups were born at the Front, 106 300 (S.E. = 23 000) in the southern Gulf (Magdalen Is.) and 4 373 (S.E. = 1 264) in the north- ern Gulf (Mecatina) for a total of 577 900 (S.E. = 38 800). Previous estimates of pup production were based primarily on age composition data (Sergeant, 1971; 1975; Benjaminsen and Øritsland, MS 1975; Winters, 1978; Cooke, 1985), aerial surveys (Lavigne et al ., 1980; MS 1982), and mark-recap- ture experiments (Bowen and Sergeant, 1983; MS 1985). The results for similar time periods were of- ten conflicting, for example ranging from 251 000 (1975/77, Lavigne et al ., 1980; MS 1982) to 450 000–534 000 (1977–1983, Bowen and Sergeant, 1983; MS 1985). The Royal Commission on Seals and Sealing in Canada (Anon., 1986) concluded that pup production in 1978 was in the order of 300 000– 350 000. Although it is difficult to compare the most recent estimate with earlier ones due to the differ- ent methods used, and the wide range in the latter, it suggests that an increase in pup production has occurred but the rate of growth cannot be esti- mated. Shelton et al . (MS 1992) applied a harp seal estimation model to the 1990 pup production sur- vey results to obtain an estimate of total popula- tion. Fitting this model to estimates of pup produc- tion in the late-1970s and 1990 suggests that the total population in 1990 was in the order of 3.1 mil- lion (range 2.7–3.5 million). The Royal Commission