Annual numbers of molting grey seals and molting site locations in Finnish sea areas. Methods: Luke carries out annual aerial census during the peak of molting time in late May/early June in Finland during the international Baltic grey seal census period (see https://helcom.fi/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Guidelines-for-monitoring-Seal-abundance-and-distribution-in-the-HELCOM-area.pdf). Grey seals are photographed when they are visible and hauling out on rocks. Individual seal numbers are later counted from images. Gained result is the regional minimum estimate of grey seals, because part of the population is always submerged and not visible on land or surface. Taxonomic coverage: Baltic grey seal Contact for data requests: kirjaamo@luke.fi

2022