Kyoto, Japan -- Northern fur seals are long-distance migrants, moving seasonally between breeding colonies and wintering grounds. After leaving breeding colonies in autumn, they travel south for winter foraging, returning in early spring. This allows them to avoid sea ice and harsh conditions in northern waters while relocating to ice-free areas.

The southward migration of these seals has been relatively well-documented. One of their primary wintering areas is the Sea of Japan, where they can find abundant prey. They have also been reported to damage fishing gear and remove catch directly from nets, potentially competing with local fisheries.

The seals' northbound migration from wintering grounds back to breeding colonies in spring remains poorly understood, however. Factors such as tag loss, limited battery life, and the difficulty of capturing animals at sea pose particular challenges.

Large ocean animals can be protected throughout much of their lifecycle by huge Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), new research shows.

Ocean health 66 million years ago analysed in an international study with the participation of EHU researcher Vicente Gilabert and published in Nature Communications