June 14, 2013 — The gray seals’ population in the Northeast has exploded in recent years, earning the ire of local fishermen who can lose valuable catches to the ravenous mammals. The seals also lure great white sharks to the beaches of Cape Cod.
Scientists do not know much about the region’s gray seal population — how large it is, for example, or where the seals spend most of their time, said Gordon Waring, a seal specialist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the project’s lead scientist.
Researchers will analyze blood, blubber, and whiskers to unlock the secrets of seal life, including what they eat.
The device glued to the head will use cellphone towers to send location, the depth of seal dives, and water temperature.
“When you pare it all down, it’s an iPhone with a really big battery,” said Johnston. “We are going to get some really amazing glimpses into the lives of the animals.”
The group is composed of researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, and Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans, among others.
Read the full story at the Boston Globe