The Estimation of the Size and Management of the Fisheries of the Harp Seal Pagophilus groenlandicus of the White Sea Population

Abstract

The paper presents a detailed description of the mathematic model to be used to estimate abundance of the White Sea harp seal population and the input data required for the model implementation. The paper also describes the model parameters and methods of their assessment. Abundance of the harp seal from 1946 to 2012 was estimated. The data from research literature were used to analyse the dynamics of fertility parameters of the While Sea harp seal population and to show its effect on the stock assessment.