Postweaning horizontal movements and diving behavior of a recovering grey seal (Halichoerus grypus atlantica) population in the western North Atlantic Animal Biotelemetry

Conserving marine predators is tantamount to maintaining functional marine ecosystems. Though intensively studied in other regions, little is known about at-sea movements and diving behaviors of a recovering population of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus atlantica) inhabiting northeastern United States continental shelf waters. Young-of-year grey seals may be particularly vulnerable to threats due to a lack of parental care postweaning. There is a need to establish baseline knowledge of at-sea behaviors in the face of large-scale ocean industrialization. We deployed 63 satellite relay data loggers on young-of-year grey seals to investigate postweaning at-sea movements and dive behaviors prior to the installation of offshore wind turbines.