Ringed seal (Phoca hispida) tagging project via the moon pool of the CCGS Amundsen

Ringed seals have been reported to enter and use extensively the moon pool on multiple occasions during the CASES project. A net was designed to attempt to capture ringed seals from the moon pool onboard the CCGS Amundsen during a three week period of leg 6a. Captured seals were to be restrained, measured and a satellite transmitter (SPLASH PTT/TDR - Wildlife Computer) attached on their back before release. While one ringed seal did use the moon pool to rest during the three week period, we were not able to physically capture and tag any seals during the trip. We ruled out the net as designed in the first place as a good seal catching device in the moon pool, and created a new design that should be more functional. Considering seals' behaviour (once seals have found the moon pool, they keep using it) and how the moon pool is used onboard the ship, we discovered it was not necessary to deploy the net overnight if no seals have been spotted in the moon pool the day before. We are confident though that a future attempt to catch seals onboard the CCGS Amundsen will have more chances to be successful.