Pieterburen, 29 June 2009 - On June 20th, the SRRC has carried out an observational flight over the Wadden Sea. A four hour flight was made at low tide, zigzagging over the sandbanks, taking a team from Den Helder to the Dollard. Over 4300 seals were counted in total, under which many Common seal pups. Last year, over 4100 seals were counted.
The SRRC has been making yearly observation flights over the Wadden Sea since 1993. These counts are of great importance for the SRRC’s biotic population research and are essential in enabling us to react adequately when changes occur in tendencies.
After the Council of State reached a verdict on the SRRC’s objection, the province of Friesland finally granted permission to fly low over the Wadden Sea, with exception of the protected areas. The
SRRC is now allowed to fly over the Wadden Sea at an altitude of 150 metres instead of the prescribed altitude of 450 metres. This is necessary, in order to be able to determine the make-up of the population: Counts can be carried out adequately at a higher altitude, but details, important for research (such as age-determination) can only be seen at a closer range.
06-29-2009 Source: SRRC Lenie 't Hart
