Fishermen's Perceptions of Harbor Seals in the Outer Banks, North Carolina

Abstract

Harbor seals were nearly extirpated on the US East Coast during the 19th and 20th centuries due to statewide culls driven by perceived competition with fisheries. Federal protection under the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972 allowed harbor seal populations to recover, eventually leading to the establishment of a seasonal haulout near the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Semi-structured interviews with commercial and recreational fishermen were conducted to understand perceptions of these seals and the state of interactions between seals and fisheries along the Outer Banks. Interviews revealed positive and neutral attitudes towards seals; perceptions were fueled by appreciation for wildlife, ecosystem benefits, and economic opportunities, as well as by limited interactions with fisheries and other priorities that overshadowed concerns of seals. The lack of negative attitudes towards seals translated into no desire to support management actions to control seal numbers, and current seal numbers and lack of interactions support the idea of coexistence rather than conflict.