Common Seals   Information on Dead Seals Status Reports May/June 2002 Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, Wilhelmshaven Recent Status Reports Reports May - June 2002 Status Report No. 12 (27.06.02) Status Report No. 11 (24.06.02) Status Report No. 10 (20.06.02) Status Report No. 9 (19.06.02) Status Report No. 8 (12.06.02) Status Report No. 7 (10.06.02) Trilateral Seal Expert Meeting (Hamburg, 6 June 2002) Status Report No. 6 (04.06.02) Status Report No. 5 (03.06.02) Status Report No. 4 (31.05.02) Status Report No. 3 (29.05.02) Status Report No. 2 (27.05.02) Status Report No. 1 (23.05.02)   Status Report No. 12 (27.06.2002): STATUS:   In total, 779 dead seals have been reported in the Danish and Swedish Kattegat/Skagerrak area until now. (Detailed numbers according to area see below). Besides the first and, until now, only seal with pdv, which was found on Vlieland in the Dutch Wadden Sea on 16 June 2002, in all other Wadden Sea areas in Denmark and Germany, as well as in other Danish areas, Norway, and in the Baltic Sea, no unusual mortality of seals has been registered. Until now, in all parts of the Wadden Sea, dead seals have been found in normal numbers compared to other years. There is also a normal situation regarding the number of pups rehabilitated in seal centers in the Netherlands, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein. Dead seals in the Danish Kattegat In total, about 599 dead common seals, of which one quarter is juveniles, have been found in the Danish Kattegat: 198 on Anholt; 150 on Læsø; 78 on the east coast of Jutland near the mouth of the Limfjord north of the Mariager Fjord; 69 on the north coast of Sealand; 25 on the north west part of Sealand; 70 on Hesselø; 9 on Bosserne. Dead seals in the Swedish Kattegat/Skagerrak area On the Swedish west coast in the area of the Kattegat/Skagerrak, 180 dead common seals have been reported until now, however, the total number of dead seals in that area cannot be estimated any longer. There was an increase in the number of dead seals over the last days and samples are taken from 10 – 15 seals per day. According to Tero Härkönen of the Natural History Museum in Stockholm, a further increase in the number of dead seals has to be expected during the next week and after that he expects a stable high-number level before it will decrease again after about 20 to 25 days. This statement is based on data and experiences from the last epidemic in 1988. Map of the Kattegat/Skagerrak Area with the islands Laesø, Anholt and Hesselø. Compiled by Bettina Reineking Common Wadden Sea Secretariat Virchowstr. 1 D 26382 Wilhelmshaven reineking@waddensea-secretariat.org Further Links Dutch Ministy for Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries: Press release (in Dutch), Background Information (in Dutch and English) Danish Forest and Nature Agency / Nationalparkamt Schleswig-Holstein /  Helcom /   Top of Page       Status Report No. 11 (24.06.2002): STATUS: In total, 685 dead seals have been reported in the Danish and Swedish Kattegat/Skagerrak area until now. It is estimated that the number of dead seals in this area is in total about 700. (Detailed numbers according to area see below). Until now, the information suggests that the disease is currently still more or less confined to the Kattegat/Skagerrak area, besides the first and, until now, only seal with pdv, which was found on Vlieland in the Dutch Wadden Sea on 16 June 2002. In all other Wadden Sea areas in Denmark and Germany, as well as in other Danish areas, Norway, and in the Baltic Sea, no unusual mortality of seals has been registered until now. Dead seals in the Danish Kattegat In total, about 527 dead common seals have been found in the Danish Kattegat: 198 on Anholt; 150 on Læsø; 78 on the east coast of Jutland near the mouth of the Limfjord north of the Mariager Fjord; 45 on the north coast of Sealand; 5 on the north west part of Sealand; 50 on Hesselø; one seal has been found dead on the island Bosserne. Dead seals in the Swedish Kattegat/Skagerrak area On the Swedish coast in the area of the Kattegat/Skagerrak 158 dead common seals have been reported for the area between Helsingborg in the south and the area near the Norwegian border. However, it is estimated that in total about 180 seals have died in this area until now. About 60 samples were taken for virological and further investigations.       Status Report No. 10 (20.06.2002): STATUS:   A press release issued by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries on 19 June 2002 states the following (in extract): "Seal virus reaches the Wadden Sea 19 June 2002 - On Vlieland, the first seal with the so-called phocine distemper virus, or the seal disease, has been found. This virus is very contagious to seals, but not dangerous to man. The seal was found on 16 June by a staff member of the Pieterburen Seal Nursery Center and transferred to Pieterburen. Following virological investigations at the Erasmus Medical Center, it appeared today that it was indeed the same virus, which, since May, has caused the death of seals in Danish and Swedish waters. Since seals can swim more than 150 km per day, it was expected that the virus would also emerge in the Wadden Sea. The virus is the same virus, which in 1988 caused the death of a substantial part of the seal population in Western Europe. The seal found on Vlieland has meanwhile died. Although the virus has now been found in the [Dutch] Wadden Sea, there is no indication of an epidemic yet….." So far the press release of the Dutch ministry from yesterday. Besides the Danish and Swedish Kattegat/Skagerrak area no unusual mortality of seals has been registered until now in all other areas in the Baltic Sea, in Denmark, Norway, as well as in the Danish and German Wadden Sea. Since the presence of the virus in the Wadden Sea has now been confirmed in the Dutch part, regions are urged to be on alert and report findings of seals which are suspected having the disease or for which the disease has been confirmed.   Top of Page   Status Report No. 9 (19.06.2002): STATUS:   In total, 540 dead seals have been reported in the Danish and Swedish Kattegat/Skagerrak area until now. It is estimated that the number of dead seals in this area is in total about 600. (Detailed numbers according to area see below). Until now, the information suggests that the disease is currently confined to the Kattegat/Skagerrak area. In all other areas in the Baltic Sea, in Denmark, Norway as well as in the Danish-German-Dutch Wadden Sea, no unusual mortality of seals has been registered until now. Dead seals in the Danish Kattegat In total, about 440 dead common seals have been found in the Danish Kattegat: 182 carcasses have been found on Anholt, a new report is expected soon; 121 carcasses have been found on Læsø; on the east coast of Jutland near the mouth of the Limfjord north of the Mariager Fjord, in total 49 dead seals have been found; on the north coast of Sealand, 38 dead seals have been found. parts of the island of Hesselø were surveyed over the last days and in total 50 dead seals were found on the island, most of them old carcasses; According to surveys on Hesselø over the last days, it is confirmed now that the disease has also spread to the island of Hesselø. Currently, however, it is unclear whether one seal found dead on the island Bosserne also died because of the pdv disease. Dead seals in the Swedish Kattegat/Skagerrak area On the Swedish coast in the area of the Kattegat/Skagerrak 100 dead common seals have been reported for the area between Helsingborg in the south and the area near the Norwegian border. However, it is estimated that about 150 – 170 seals have died in this area until now.   Top of Page  Status Report No. 8 (12.06.2002): STATUS: Dead seals in the Danish Kattegat In total, about 360 dead common seals have been found in the Danish Kattegat. Until today, 182 carcasses were found on Anholt; until yesterday 107 on Læsø, of which in the last days were 5 pups and 17 adults; on the east coast of Jutland north of the Limfjord, 34 dead seals were found, of which 10 were found within the last days; on Hesselø and on the north coast of Sealand, in total about 30 dead seals have been found. However, bad weather conditions prevented surveys in the last days on the cliffs on Hesselø. Furthermore, some dead seals have been found near the mouth of the Limfjord on the Kattegat site. Dead seals in the Swedish Kattegat/Skagerrak area On the Swedish coast in the area of the Kattegat/Skagerrak between the Öresund in the south and the area near the Norwegian border, in total 73 dead common seals have been found until today. According to virological assays three seal samples showed positive results of the Phocine distemper virus (pdv). The pathological findings from six of eleven investigated seals showed symptoms as the diseased seals in 1988. Most of the carcasses are in a bad shape, however, there are also fresh carcasses, abortions and females, which died during abortion. According to Tero Härkönen, Natural History Museum in Stockholm, the disease has a completely different spreading pattern compared to 1988. The disease has currently spread already in the seal populations in the Anholt area and the Swedish coast, among which no migration takes place. This happened much quicker than during the outbreak in 1988. Situation in other areas In all other areas in the Baltic Sea, in Denmark, Norway as well as in the Danish-German-Dutch Wadden Sea, no unusual mortality of seals has been registered until now. Top of Page   Trilateral Seal Expert Meeting on 6 June 2002 Trilateral Seal Expert Meeting  On 6 June 2002, a trilateral meeting of seal experts with representatives of the scientific and management sector was held to discuss the current status of the mortality of common seals in the Kattegat/Skagerrak area and the potential further development in case of a possible outbreak of the disease in the Wadden Sea. According to the "Report of the Trilateral Seal Expert Meeting" the participants of the meeting agreed on a number of recommendations. Basically the meeting confirmed the Seal Management Plan as the basis for the further activities should there be an outbreak of seal disease in the Wadden Sea. The recommendations have been approved by the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation as a guidance for relevant activities in the framework of the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation in case of an outbreak of the seal disease. The "Report of the Trilateral Seal Expert Meeting" can be downloaded as PDF file.   Top of Page   Status Report No. 7 (10.06.2002): Confirmation of the phocine distemper virus in Denmark and Sweden The occurrence of the Phocine distemper virus (pdv) in the found dead common seals in the Danish and also the Swedish Kattegat/Skagerrak areas has been definitively confirmed. Dead seals in the Danish Kattegat In total about 320-330 dead seals have been found in the Danish Kattegat until now. The carcasses were found on Anholt (180), Læsø (85), Hesselø and the north coast of Sealand (30), and on the east coast of Jutland north of the Limfjord (24). Situation in other areas In Sweden, 69 dead common seals have been found on the Swedish coast in the area of the Kattegat/Skagerrak between Falkenberg and the area near the Norwegian border. Virological investigations of seal samples showed positive results of the Phocine distemper virus (pdv). In Sweden, it was started to collect all dead seals and tissue samples are taken for further investigations. In all other areas in Denmark, as well as in the Danish-German-Dutch Wadden Sea, no unusual mortality of seals has been registered until now. Outlook It seems that the mortality has stabilized and has not increased very much since last week. Accurate predictions on the spreading of the disease into other areas, e.g. the Wadden Sea cannot be provided because of insufficient information on the underlying influencing spreading factors of the disease. However, the pdv epidemic in 1988 showed that the disease can potentially reach the Wadden Sea within short. Top of Page   Status Report No. 6 (04.06.2002): Confirmation of the phocine distemper virus in Denmark According to the investigations at the Danish State Veterinarian Institute in Aarhus, it has been definitely confirmed that the phocine distemper virus (pdv) is the cause of the mortality of common seals in the Danish Kattegat. Thus the results of the Dutch investigation, in which already in mid May the pdv was detected, have been confirmed. Dead seals in the Danish Kattegat There is no new information regarding numbers of dead seals in the Danish Kattegat (last information see last Status Report of 03.06.2002). Situation in other areas In all other areas in Denmark, as well as in the Danish-German-Dutch Wadden Sea, no unusual mortality of seals has been registered until now. However, about 39 dead common seals have been found on the Swedish coast in the area of the Kattegat / Skagerrak since 30.05.2002. Most of the seals were found south of Göteburg, the most southern dead seal near Falkenberg, and the most northern one near the island Tjaernø, Skagerrak, near the Norwegian border. Systematic organization of the recording, collection and sampling of the carcasses just started at the Swedish coast and further results will be available in some days/weeks. Until now, 7 seals of the 39 have been collected for dissections at the Swedish Museum of Natural History. In three already dissected carcasses the pathological findings showed the same symptoms as were found in the pdv infected seals in 1988. Investigations to test the animals for distemper are initiated. A trilateral meeting with Danish, German and Dutch seal experts and managers is in preparation.     Top of Page   Status Report No. 5 (03.06.2002): Dead seals in the Danish Kattegat In total about 250 dead seals have been found in the Danish Kattegat until now, of which 50% are pups respectively adults. The carcasses were found on Anholt (160), Laesø (60), Hesselø and the north coast of Sealand (30). On Hesselø, about 700 common seals were counted during the last regular count in August 2000. It can be estimated that the total population of Hesselø is twice as much. (Reference to DMU-Report No 350, 2001) Investigations of the dead seals In Denmark, the investigations regarding the cause of the seal disease are still going on at the Danish State Veterinarian Institute in Aarhus as well as at the Department of Arctic Environment of the Danish National Environmental Research Institute. Situation in other areas In all other areas in Denmark as well as in the Danish-German-Dutch Wadden Sea, no unusual mortality of seals has been registered until now. About 10 dead seals have been found on the Swedish coast in the area of the Kattegat / Skagerrag, e.g on the island Tjaernø, however the number of dead seals and the geographical area off the Swedish west coast are not yet confirmed at the moment. Investigations to test the animals for distemper are initiated. A trilateral meeting with Danish, German and Dutch seal experts and managers is in preparation.   Top of Page   Status Report No. 4 (31.05.2002): Dead seals in the Danish Kattegat There is no new information on the number of dead seals in the Danish Kattegat until 14 hrs on 31.05.2002. New information can be expected on Monday, 03.06.2002. Investigations of the dead seals: In Denmark, comprehensive investigations are still going on. According to the Danish State Veterinarian Institute in Aarhus all indications point towards the fact that it is the distemper virus, but the last prove is still missing. A final confirmation whether it is an outbreak of phocine distemper is expected at the beginning of next week. Situation in other areas: In the Danish-German-Dutch Wadden Sea, there has no unusual mortality of seals been registered until now. Remark: The next Status Report will be compiled by the CWSS on Monday, 06.06.2002. Top of Page   Status Report No. 3 (29.05.2002): Status Dead seals on Anholt and Laesø, Kattegat in May 2002: Until 28.05.2002, about 75 adult and 75 pups dead common seals have been found on the island of Anholt and about 50-75 on the island of Laesø, north of Anholt, in the Danish Kattegat. Population of common seals on Anholt and Laesø, Kattegat in 2000: On Anholt, about 800 common seals were counted during the last regular count in August 2000. It can be estimated that the total population of Anholt is twice as much. On Laesø, about 900 common seals were counted during the last regular count in August 2000. It can be estimated that the total population of Laesø is also twice as much. (Reference to DMU-Report No 350, 2001) Remark: The information of a stock of 250 common seals on Anholt, which was presented in some press releases, is not correct. Information regarding Anholt The area of seal sites of common seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) on Anholt are reserves with no access and it is far away from the inhabited parts of the island with about 150 inhabitants and some 1,000 summer guests. There are only some sheep and cows on the island, however, nothing special such as fur farms. There are also grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) on Anholt, which migrate far away/around and are resting on Anholt (no rearing area). During the 1988 disease only some grey seals were infected on Anholt. In spring 1988, also harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) visited Anholt, however, this was not the case in 2002. Investigations of the dead seals Until now, there is no further information than the one given in the second report on 27.05.02 which is: a. Investigations at the Danish State Veterinarian Institute in Aarhus, Denmark: 14 of 100 found dead seals on Anholt are under investigation with the following findings: Bronchopneumonia; Parasites; Bordetella bronchiseptica, a bacteria which causes pigs to sneeze; no phocine distemper virus (pdv). b. Investigations at the Erasmus Univestity in Rotterdam, the Netherlands: Three samples of the above mentioned 14 dead seals were examined in the Netherlands with the Polymerase-Chain-Reaction-method  (PCR) with positive results of the Phocine distemper virus (pdv). According to the Danish veterinarian histological and immunocyto- chemical investigations revealed no indication for distemper so far. However, more investigations are in process. Therefore, the cause of the dead seals on Anholt and Laesø is still not fully clear at the moment, and the full confirmation of an outbreak of phocine distemper is still open. Situation in other areas There are some seals found dead here and there at Skagen and Hesselø as well as on some Swedish islands in the Kattegat, however, it still has to be confirmed whether these seals drifted there from the Anholt/Laesø– area or whether the disease spread to other areas. In all other areas in Denmark as well as in the Danish-German-Dutch Wadden Sea, there has no unusual mortality of seals been registered until now. Conclusions 200-225 dead seals in the area of the Kattegat, the same area in which the 1988-mass mortality of seals started in April 1988, causes serious concern and the development in the next days and weeks has to be followed with increased attention. The cause of the dead seals on Anholt and Laesø is still not fully clear at the moment, and the definite confirmation of an outbreak of phocine distemper is still open. Investigations to find out the cause of the mortality of seals are ongoing. Rangers/institutions/labs are on alert to look after seals in the concerned Danish area, in the surrounding areas as well as in the Wadden Sea. The Danish State Veterinarian Institute in Aarhus is continuing to carry out investigations of found dead seals. Remark  The next Status Report will be compiled by the CWSS on Friday, 31.05.2002.  Top of Page   Status Report No. 2 (27.05.2002): 1. Status 1.1 Dead seals on Anholt and Laesø, Kattegat in May 2002 Until 27.05.2002, about 100 dead common seals have been found on the island of Anholt and about 50 on the island of Laesø, north of Anholt, in the Danish Kattegat. 1.2 Population of common seals on Anholt and Laesø, Kattegat in 2000 On Anholt, about 800 common seals were counted during the last regular count in August 2000. It can be estimated that the total population of Anholt is twice as much. On Laesø about 900 common seals were counted during the last regular count in August 2000. It can be estimated that the total population of Laesø is twice as much. (Reference to DMU-Report No 350, 2001) 1.3 Investigations of the dead seals: a. Investigations at the Danish State Veterinarian Institute in Aarhus, Denmark: 14 of 100 found dead seals on Anholt are under investigation with the following findings:  Bronchopneumonia;  Parasites;  Bordetella bronchiseptica, a bacteria which causes pigs to sneeze;  no phocine distemper virus (pdv). b. Investigations at the Erasmus Univestity in Rotterdam, the Netherlands: Three samples of the above mentioned 14 dead seals were examined in the Netherlands with the Polymerase-Chain-Reaction-method  (PCR) with positiv results of Phocine distemper virus (pdv). According to the Danish veterinarian histological and immunocyto- chemical investigations revealed no indication for distemper so far. However, more investigations are under process. Therefore, the cause of the dead seals on Anholt and Laesø is still not fully clear at the moment, and the fully confirmation of an outbreak of phocine distemper is still open. 1.4 Situation in other areas In all other areas in Denmark as well as in the Danish-German-Dutch Wadden Sea, there has no unusual mortality of seals been registered until now. 2. Conclusions 150 dead seals in the area of the Kattegat, the same area in which the 1988-mass mortality of seals started in April 1988, causes serious concern and the development in the next days and weeks has to be followed with increased attention. The cause of the dead seals on Anholt and Laesø is still not fully clear at the moment, and the fully confirmation of an outbreak of phocine distemper is still open. Investigations to find out the cause of the mortality of seals are going on. Rangers/institutions/labs are on alert to look after seals in the concerned Danish area, in the surrounding areas as well as in the Wadden Sea. The Danish State Veterinarian Institute in Aarhus is continuing to carry out investigations of found dead seals. Top of Page   Status Report No. 1 (23.05.2002): Background The Directorate North of the Ministry for Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries asked for clarification and more information regarding the dead seals in Denmark. The background is the following: The seal station in Pieterburen, the Netherlands, has launched a press release, stating that in the week before Whitsun, 70 dead seals were found on the island Anholt in Denmark. Normally, the population amounts to about 250, so this is quite substantial. Pieterburen has sent their veterinarian for support to verify what the cause of death could be. This information was published in the Dutch daily newspapers on 21 May 2002. Status The following information has been received from Denmark: At Anholt, Kattegat: At Anholt, the population of seals amount to about 800 to 900 (up to 1,000) seals. 26 adults and 20 early born pups (abortions) of common seals (in total 46) were found dead on the island of Anholt in Denmark (reserve) within 14 days around 07.05.2002. Since than, no more seals have died (last check on Anholt 22.05.2002). The results of the investigations of the found dead seals on Anholt at the Danish State Veterinarian Institute in Aarhus are: no pdv-virus, but a bacteria which causes pigs to sneeze. The occurrence of the bacteria is limited to the dead seals on Anholt. The cause of the dead seals on Anholt is not fully clear at the moment, however rangers/institutions are on alert to look after seals on Anholt and other areas. Other areas in Denmark In the surrounding area of Anholt in the Kattegat and also in the Danish Wadden Sea, there is no unusual mortality of seals, only some "normal" abortions. Some of the early born pups of the Wadden Sea were also investigated by the State Veterinarian Institute in Aarhus without any findings. In the area of Thy, in the Limfjord area, some dead seals were found before Whitsun and three during Whitsun, however, they did not die because of the bacterial infection, which occurred on Anholt. The found carcasses were mostly old and it seems that there is no interrelation between the dead seals of Anholt and Thy. According to the wildlife officer of the National Forest and Nature Agency, the situation in Thy is not alarming because of the circumstances and the small number of dead seals (Limfjord seal population about 800). Conclusions The National Forest and Nature Agency stated that apparently the critical stage regarding dead seals on Anholt is over. The Danish State Veterinarian Institute in Aarhus concluded that there is no epidemic at the moment, however, it is too early to reduce the increased attention in seal areas. The Institute will continue carrying out investigations of found dead seals. Information received from: Svend Tougaard, Fishery and Seafaring Museum in Esbjerg, Danish TSEG-member Website of Skov- og Naturstyrelsen, Nyhesdsbrev 15.05. and 22.05.2002 Wildkonsulent Per Leth Sørensen, Fussingø  Statsskovdistrikt, in Randers     Top of Page Compiled by Bettina Reineking Common Wadden Sea Secretariat Virchowstr. 1 D 26382 Wilhelmshaven reineking@waddensea-secretariat.org   Further Links Dutch Ministy for Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries: Press release (in Dutch), Background Information (in Dutch and English) Danish Forest and Nature Agency / Nationalparkamt Schleswig-Holstein /  Helcom /   Top of Page