Alaska Harbor Seal Haul-out Locations

Description

Aerial surveys of coastal Alaska are the primary method for estimating abundance of harbor seals. A particular challenge associated with aerial surveys of harbor seals is maintaining consistent spatial representation of haul-out locations (waypoints). In some cases, seals aggregate into a single large grouping at a particular area. In other cases, seals aggregate into several smaller groups spread over a particular area. To establish geo-spatial consistency, the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) maintains a list of haul-out locations that represent known harbor seal aggregations in Alaska. Haul-out locations were identified through aerial survey efforts and historical knowledge. Locations are assigned a unique alphanumeric identifier, based on the survey unit they fall within, and the spatial data are provided in the geographic (epsg:4326) coordinate reference system. These haul-out locations are used to inform management decisions pertaining to coastal activities (presence/absence of seals in a particular area) and to facilitate AFSC field work that includes both aerial and vessel surveys. Haul-out locations are updated annually based on information obtained from aerial survey observations. This dataset contains Alaska harbor seal haul-out locations that are recorded primarily to support aerial survey efforts in August and (in some areas, June). Harbor seals are known to use various haul-out locations seasonally and, thus, this is likely not a complete collection of harbor seal haul-out locations. Some haul-outs that are close together may be combined and represented as one site or waypoint. Important haul-out locations have been identified in the "status" field of the attribute table and are labeled as "key haulout" if a particular location contains 50 or more harbors seals. A haul-out location containing less than 50 harbor seals is labeled "not key haulout". This number may change as more in depth analysis continues.

Resources

Name Format Description Link
0 View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/26760
0 AKFSC Home Page https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/alaska-fisheries-science-center
33 NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/afsc/dmp/pdf/26760.pdf
0 Note: Dataset migrated by Dan Woodrich (AFSC data management coordinator) on 12/20/2021. Contact: Daniel.woodrich@noaa.gov https://console.cloud.google.com/storage/browser/nmfs_odp_afsc/MML/PEP/Alaska%20Harbor%20Seal%20Haul-out%20Locations
23 Online resource https://services2.arcgis.com/C8EMgrsFcRFL6LrL/arcgis/rest/services/pv_cst_haulout/FeatureServer
0 The information provided on this page seeks to define how the GCMD Keywords are structured, used and accessed. It also provides information on how users can participate in the further development of the keywords. https://www.earthdata.nasa.gov/learn/find-data/idn/gcmd-keywords
23 Online resource https://services2.arcgis.com/C8EMgrsFcRFL6LrL/arcgis/rest/services/pv_cst_haulout/FeatureServer
0 https://noaa.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/noaa::-alaska-harbor-seal-haul-out-locations/about
0 View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/26760
0 AKFSC Home Page https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/alaska-fisheries-science-center
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2024. GCMD Keywords, Version 19. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
33 NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/afsc/dmp/pdf/26760.pdf
23 Online resource https://services2.arcgis.com/C8EMgrsFcRFL6LrL/arcgis/rest/services/pv_cst_haulout/FeatureServer
0 https://noaa.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/noaa::-alaska-harbor-seal-haul-out-locations/about
0 View the complete metadata record on InPort for more information about this dataset. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/26760
0 AKFSC Home Page https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/alaska-fisheries-science-center
0 Global Change Master Directory (GCMD). 2025. GCMD Keywords, Version 22. Greenbelt, MD: Earth Science Data and Information System, Earth Science Projects Division, Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). URL (GCMD Keyword Forum Page): https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD+Keywords https://forum.earthdata.nasa.gov/app.php/tag/GCMD%2BKeywords
33 NOAA Data Management Plan for this record on InPort. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inportserve/waf/noaa/nmfs/afsc/dmp/pdf/26760.pdf

Tags

  • alaska fisheries science center
  • alaska
  • aleutian islands
  • harbor seal
  • noaa
  • haul-out locations
  • bristol bay
  • gulf of alaska
  • u.s. department of commerce
  • national marine fisheries service
  • doc/noaa/nmfs/afsc
  • alaska harbor seal surveys and abundance
  • aerial survey

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