Management hunting
A limited amount of hunting is currently permitted, especially in areas where seals have caused extensive damage to commercial fishing gear. But since new environmental poisons are discovered now and then, the Swedish Museum of Natural History continues to monitor the health of the seal population
Death by drowning
It is still the case that many seals die after being trapped in commercial fishing gear. Seals need to breathe, and if they are trapped underwater they drown to death. Efforts are being made to prevent such accidents by developing new types of gear.
Intestinal ulcers?
Many of the dead seals we investigate here at the museum have had intestinal ulcers for some time. That is more common among older seals. One contributing factor may be the presence of hookworms — parasites that attach themselves to intestinal walls. But it is possible that environmental toxins are also involved.
