Effects of Vessels on Harbor Seals in Glacier Bay National Park

Vessel regulations in Glacier Bay National Park, designed to protect harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), showed mixed effectiveness. While compliance with area closures was 100%, dependent seal pups remained in opened areas. Compliance with the 463-meter minimum approach distance was low at 22%, yet disturbances occurred even when vessels maintained this distance, suggesting biological or environmental factors may influence seal behavior. Ice cover emerged as a significant predictor of disturbance, indicating that regulations may need reassessment to better align with conservation goals.

Young, C., Gende, S. M., & Harvey, J. T. (2014). Effects of Vessels on Harbor Seals in Glacier Bay National Park. Tourism in Marine Environments, 10(1), 5–20. https://doi.org/10.3727/154427314x14056884441626