Decline Of Harp Seal Essay

Decline of Harp Seal Population

The Harp Seal lives in the chilly waters of the North Atlantic and Artic oceans. They spend majority of their time swimming, but do go on land. The Harp Seal eats approximately sixty-seven species of fish and seventy species of invertebrates. These animals are prey of Polar Bears, Killer Whales, and Greenland Sharks (Kovacs, 2015). The Harp Seal’s status is least concerned. They move to Newfoundland, the Greenland Sea, and the White Sea for breeding. As a result of climate change and overfishing, it is predicted that Harp Seal populations will decrease because of loss of pup raising space and loss of food supply. National Geographic. (2016)

Climate change increases the carbon dioxide levels in oceans. The increased CO2 causes shifts in ocean conditions, rising sea temperatures, rising of sea levels, etc. The increase of oceanic temperatures causes the melting of sea ice. The model shows this as climate change has an arrow going to sea ice melting. Sea ice is essential to Harp Seals. They depend on sea ice as a platform for pupping, molting, and resting (Kovacs, 2015). The Harp Seal pups stay immobile on ice packs for the first twelve days of their life to gain fat. Sea ice decline is resulting in less Harp Seal pups being born and surviving. The model shows this, because sea ice

decrease goes into the decline of Harp Seal populations. These breeding grounds have decreased up to six percent per decade since 1979. This decrease of sea ice packs correlates with decline of Harp Seal population as they are needed for birth and nursing. (Morello, 2012)
Another effect climate change has on the ocean is shifting conditions. The Harp Seal’s primary prey Polar Cod, Capelin, and Herring all face the shifts. The ocean conditions are shifting to low temperatures and sanity, and extensive ice cover. This is causing the decline of those three major fish populations. This is demonstrated in the model with climate change leading into prey decreased. From prey decreased the model then goes to decline in Harp Seal population. The decline of the Harp Seal’s prey results in a decrease of population, as there is not enough food to sustain the population. (Kovacs, 2015)
The primary fish that the Harp Seal eat also fall victim to overfishing. Overfishing is the depletion of fish in a body of water. Humans have high demand for Polar Cod, Capelin, and herring making fishers deplete sources, overfishing. This overfishing does not leave enough fish for the Harp Seal to sustain their population. On the model this is seen as overfishing leads to prey decrease. From there the prey decrease results in a decline in the Harp Seal population. The prey numbers decreased which does not allow the Harp Seal to be sustained, because there is not enough food. The populations of fish were already dropping due to ocean shifts but drop even more due to overfishing causing more of a decline in the Harp Seal population. (Kovacs, 2015)
Not only are the Harp Seal’s prey overfished they themselves are as well.

Since the 1500s Harp Seals have been hunted for their oil. Now a more modern phenomenon is causing them to be hunted, their white fluffy fur. Only baby Harp Seals have the white fur so this hunting adds to the difficultly of reaching adulthood. As the fur is of very high value they were hunted heavily causing population decrease. The model shows overfishing directly leads to the decline in the Harp Seal population. However, in the 70s conservation laws were passed protecting them. Yet, unfortunately Harp Seals are still-hunted adding to the decline of their population. (Kovacs,

2015)
Climate change and overfishing lead to the depletion of breeding grounds and food sources of the Harp Seal causing population decrease. Each one of these factors negativity affects the population of this animal. As the model shows all these working together show how the decrease of population is to be expected for the Harp Seal.