SHARK - National marine environmental monitoring of Seal pathology in Sweden

The national monitoring program was initiated by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and is now financed by the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management.Monitoring is performed by the Swedish Museum of Natural History. Data is stored in the Swedish archive for oceanographic data (SHARK) database, curated by SMHI.Information about the program and the methods are available in Swedish at the website of the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management https://www.havochvatten.se/vagledning-foreskrifter-och-lagar/vagledningar/ovriga-vagledningar/overvakningsmanualer-for-miljoovervakning/overvakningsmanualer/patologi-hos-grasal-vikaresal-och-knubbsal.html Information about the program and the methods are available in Swedish at the website of the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management https://www.havochvatten.se/vagledning-foreskrifter-och-lagar/vagledningar/ovriga-vagledningar/overvakningsmanualer-for-miljoovervakning/overvakningsmanualer/patologi-hos-grasal-vikaresal-och-knubbsal.htmlStudy ExtentMonitoring programMethod step description:Seal pathology using necropsy and histopathological findings of dead seals has been monitored in and around Swedish coasts since 2008.This monitoring program is focused toward determining the health status of seal populations via autopsies of animals that are collected and sent to the Swedish Museum of Natural History. In addition, the program is also aimed for finding and measuring potentially harmful substances in biota.Sampling provides information to describe the cause of death among seals.