GPS tracking of Antarctic fur seals at Maiviken, South Georgia, 2009 to 2011

GPS (Global Positioning System) tags were used to track 30 Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) at Maiviken, South Georgia. Tags were deployed over two austral summer seasons; 2009 to 2010 and 2010 to 2011. GPS tags record location at specified intervals, in this case every few minutes. Data are stored internally on the tag, and so tags must be retrieved to download the data. When combined with TDR (Time-Depth Recorder) data, a detailed picture can be obtained of seal movements. The accompanying tag deployment and retrieval metadata also includes morphological measurements of the seals.

This work was funded by Natural Environment Research Council (UK) core funding to the British Antarctic Survey.