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Kingdom: Animalia > Phylum: Chordata > Class: Mammalia > Order: Carnivora > Family: Phocidae > Genus: Halichoerus > Species: Halichoerus grypus

Grey seal - Halichoerus grypus (Fabricius, 1791)

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Quick facts

Threat status Europe	Least Concern (IUCN)
Protected by	EU Habitats Directive and 6 other international agreements
Natura 2000 sites	214 are designated for this species
Most preferred habitats	coastal marine inlets and transitional waters shelf
Natura 2000 species code	1364

Distribution

The distribution map is currently disabled. A new map solution will soon become available. In the meantime, please consult other species distribution map providers listed in the Other resources panel below.

Threat and conservation status

IUCN Red List status of threatened species

The IUCN Red List threat status assesses the risk of extinction.

World

Least Concern

Europe

Least Concern

IUCN Red List Category

Not Evaluated	Near Threatened	Regionally Extinct
Not Applicable	Vulnerable	Extinct in the Wild
Data Deficient	Endangered	Extinct
Least Concern	Critically Endangered

Sources:

EU conservation status

Conservation status assesses every six years and for each biogeographical region the condition of habitats and species compared to the favourable status as described in the Habitats Directive. The map shows the 2013-2018 assessments as reported by EU Member State. Assessments are further detailed in the summary document available behind the link below.

Good: the species is viable and maintaining itself on a long-term basis, its natural range is not reduced, and it has a sufficient large habitat.
Poor: the species is not as critical as being unfavourable-bad, but still requires significant conservation and restoration measure to make it viable in the long-term, or to enlarged its current range, or to improve the quality and availability of its habitat.
Bad: the species is either not maintaining itself on a long-term basis and is not viable, or its natural range as been or is being drastically reduced, or its habitat is largely insufficient; the species requires major conservation and restoration measures.
Unknown: the information available for the species is scarce and does not allow a proper assessment of its conservation status.

Natura 2000 sites

Protected in the following Natura 2000 sites

Sitecode	Country	Site name	Action
BEMNZ0001	Belgium	Vlaamse Banken	Map
DE1346301	Germany	Steilküste und Blockgründe Wittow	Map
DE1647303	Germany	Granitz	Map
DE1749301	Germany	Greifswalder Oie	Map
DE2016301	Germany	Hamburgisches Wattenmeer	Map
DE2306301	Germany	Nationalpark Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer	Map
DK002X110	Denmark	Saltholm og omliggende hav	Map
DK003X202	Denmark	Hesselø med omliggende stenrev	Map
DK003X208	Denmark	Tisvilde Hegn og Melby Overdrev	Map
DK005X221	Denmark	Sejerø Bugt og Saltbæk Vig	Map
DK006X233	Denmark	Havet og kysten mellem Præstø Fjord og Grønsund	Map
DK006X238	Denmark	Smålandsfarvandet nord for Lolland, Guldborg Sund, Bøtø Nor, Hyllekrog-Rødsand	Map
DK007X079	Denmark	Ertholmene	Map
DK00AY176	Denmark	Vadehavet med Ribe Å, Tved Å og Varde Å vest for Varde	Map
DK00DX146	Denmark	Anholt og havet nord for	Map
DK00DX155	Denmark	Stavns Fjord, Samsø Østerflak og Nordby Hede	Map
DK00DY156	Denmark	Horsens Fjord, havet øst for og Endelave	Map
DK00FX010	Denmark	Strandenge på Læsø og havet syd herfor	Map
DK00FX113	Denmark	Hirsholmene, havet vest herfor og Ellinge Å's udløb	Map
DK00FX122	Denmark	Ålborg Bugt, Randers Fjord og Mariager Fjord	Map
DK00FX257	Denmark	Havet omkring Nordre Rønner	Map
DK00VA347	Denmark	Sydlige Nordsø	Map
EE0010171	Estonia	Kolga lahe	Map
EE0040476	Estonia	Tagamõisa	Map
EE0040496	Estonia	Vilsandi	Map
FI0100005	Finland	Tammisaaren ja Hangon saariston ja Pohjanpitäjänlahden merensuojelualue	Map
FI0100077	Finland	Söderskärin ja Långörenin saaristo	Map
FI0100078	Finland	Pernajanlahtien ja Pernajan saariston merensuojelualue	Map
FI0100089	Finland	Kallbådanin luodot ja vesialue	Map
FI0200072	Finland	Uudenkaupungin saaristo	Map
FI0200073	Finland	Rauman saaristo	Map
FI0200074	Finland	Luvian saaristo	Map
FI0200090	Finland	Saaristomeri	Map
FI0408001	Finland	Itäisen Suomenlahden saaristo ja vedet	Map
FI0800130	Finland	Merenkurkun saaristo	Map
FI0800134	Finland	Kristiinankaupungin saaristo	Map
FI1000005	Finland	Rahjan saaristo	Map
FI1300301	Finland	PERÄMEREN KANSALLISPUISTO	Map
FI1300302	Finland	Perämeren saaret	Map
FI1400006	Finland	Björkör	Map
FI1400007	Finland	Sandskär	Map
FI1400011	Finland	Länsmansgrund	Map
FI1400012	Finland	Blåskären - Salungarna - Stora Bredgrundet	Map
FI1400013	Finland	Stora Lökskär	Map
FI1400021	Finland	Boxö	Map
FI1400029	Finland	Gadden	Map
FI1400030	Finland	Södra Sandbäck	Map
FI1400031	Finland	Ytterstberg	Map
FI1400035	Finland	Märrkallarna - Åbergsgrynnan - Mjölskärskallen	Map
FI1400040	Finland	Klåvskär	Map
FI1400047	Finland	Signilskär - Märket	Map
FI1400048	Finland	Läggningsbådan	Map
FI1400054	Finland	Mörskär	Map
FI1400055	Finland	Karlbybådar	Map
FI1400057	Finland	Örskär - Fjällskär	Map
FI1400058	Finland	Lågskär	Map
FI1400062	Finland	Knöppelskär - Pargrund - Kråkskär	Map
FI1400064	Finland	Rannö	Map
FR2200346	France	Estuaires et littoral picards (baies de Somme et d'Authie)	Map
FR2300121	France	Estuaire de la Seine	Map
FR2300139	France	Littoral Cauchois	Map
FR2500077	France	Baie du Mont Saint-Michel	Map
FR2500079	France	Chausey	Map
FR2500080	France	Littoral Ouest du Cotentin de Bréhal à Pirou	Map
FR2500084	France	Récifs et landes de la Hague	Map
FR2500085	France	Récifs et marais arrière-littoraux du Cap Lévi à la Pointe de Saire	Map
FR2500088	France	Marais du Cotentin et du Bessin - Baie des Veys	Map
FR3100474	France	Dunes de la plaine maritime flamande	Map
FR3100478	France	Falaises du Cran aux Oeufs et du Cap Gris-Nez, Dunes du Chatelet, Marais de Tardinghen et Dunes de Wissant	Map
FR3100480	France	Estuaire de la Canche, dunes picardes plaquées sur l'ancienne falaise, forêt d'Hardelot et falaise d'Equihen	Map
FR5300009	France	Côte de Granit rose-Sept-Iles	Map
FR5300010	France	Tregor Goëlo	Map
FR5300012	France	Baie de Lancieux, Baie de l'Arguenon, Archipel de Saint Malo et Dinard	Map
FR5300015	France	Baie de Morlaix	Map
FR5300016	France	Anse de Goulven, dunes de Keremma	Map
FR5300017	France	Abers - Côte des légendes	Map
FR5300018	France	Ouessant-Molène	Map
FR5300019	France	Presqu'Ile de Crozon	Map
FR5300020	France	Cap Sizun	Map
FR5300021	France	Baie d'Audierne	Map
FR5300023	France	Archipel des Glénan	Map
FR5300029	France	Golfe du Morbihan, côte ouest de Rhuys	Map
FR5300032	France	Belle Ile en mer	Map
FR5300046	France	Rade de Brest, estuaire de l'Aulne	Map
FR5300049	France	Dunes et côtes de Trévignon	Map
FR5300052	France	Côte de Cancale à Paramé	Map
FR5300066	France	Baie de Saint-Brieuc - Est	Map
FR5400469	France	Pertuis Charentais	Map
IE0000101	Ireland	Roaringwater Bay and Islands SAC	Map
IE0000147	Ireland	Horn Head and Rinclevan SAC	Map
IE0000190	Ireland	Slieve Tooey/Tormore Island/Loughros Beg Bay SAC	Map
IE0000204	Ireland	Lambay Island SAC	Map
IE0000278	Ireland	Inishbofin and Inishshark SAC	Map
IE0000328	Ireland	Slyne Head Islands SAC	Map
IE0000495	Ireland	Duvillaun Islands SAC	Map
IE0000507	Ireland	Inishkea Islands SAC	Map
IE0000707	Ireland	Saltee Islands SAC	Map
IE0002172	Ireland	Blasket Islands SAC	Map
NL1000001	Netherlands	Waddenzee	Map
NL2003059	Netherlands	Duinen Terschelling	Map
NL2003060	Netherlands	Duinen en Lage Land Texel	Map
NL2003061	Netherlands	Duinen Vlieland	Map
NL3009016	Netherlands	Oosterschelde	Map
NL4000017	Netherlands	Voordelta	Map
NL4000021	Netherlands	Grevelingen	Map
NL9801079	Netherlands	Duinen Goeree & Kwade Hoek	Map
NL9802001	Netherlands	Noordzeekustzone	Map
NL9803061	Netherlands	Westerschelde & Saeftinghe	Map
SE0110088	Sweden	Bullerö-Bytta	Map
SE0110092	Sweden	Stora Nassa	Map
SE0110096	Sweden	Svenska Högarna	Map
SE0110111	Sweden	Huvudskär	Map
SE0110124	Sweden	Svenska Björn	Map
SE0220028	Sweden	Hävringe-Källskären	Map
SE0220129	Sweden	Skärgårdsreservaten	Map
SE0230055	Sweden	Sankt Anna och Gryts skärgårdar	Map
SE0230090	Sweden	Bråviken yttre	Map
SE0330108	Sweden	Ottenby NR	Map
SE0330109	Sweden	Eckelsudde	Map
SE0330123	Sweden	Värnanäs skärgård	Map
SE0330159	Sweden	Örö Sankor	Map
SE0330174	Sweden	Sydöstra Ölands sjömarker	Map
SE0330187	Sweden	Jutskär	Map
SE0330189	Sweden	Stora Grindö	Map
SE0330190	Sweden	Städsholmen	Map
SE0340010	Sweden	Näsrevet	Map
SE0340097	Sweden	Gotska Sandön-Salvorev	Map
SE0410040	Sweden	Utklippan	Map
SE0430095	Sweden	Falsterbohalvön	Map
SE0510050	Sweden	Balgö	Map
SE0630027	Sweden	Eggegrund och Gråsjälsbådan	Map
SE0630067	Sweden	Snäcken	Map
SE0630068	Sweden	Agön-Kråkön	Map
SE0630089	Sweden	Hölick	Map
SE0630094	Sweden	Kuggörarna	Map
SE0630166	Sweden	Axmar-Gåsholma	Map
SE0630173	Sweden	Gran	Map
SE0810001	Sweden	Kronören	Map
SE0810002	Sweden	Bonden	Map
SE0810003	Sweden	Snöanskärgården	Map
SE0810010	Sweden	Holmöarna	Map
SE0820004	Sweden	Stor-Räbben	Map
SE0820035	Sweden	Rödkallen-SörÄspen	Map
SE0820049	Sweden	Lappön	Map
SE0820108	Sweden	Haparanda skärgård	Map
SE0820629	Sweden	Bondöfjärden	Map
PLH220044	Poland	Ostoja w Ujściu Wisły	Map
BEMNZ0004	Belgium	SBZ 3 / ZPS 3	Map
EE0040313	Estonia	Kihnu	Map
DE1542302	Germany	Recknitz-Ästuar und Halbinsel Zingst	Map
DE1209301	Germany	Sylter Außenriff	Map
PLH990002	Poland	Ostoja na Zatoce Pomorskiej	Map
EE0060220	Estonia	Uhtju	Map
BEMNZ0005	Belgium	Vlakte van de Raan	Map
DE1541301	Germany	Darß	Map
DE1115391	Germany	Dünenlandschaft Süd-Sylt	Map
PLH280007	Poland	Zalew Wiślany i Mierzeja Wiślana	Map
PLH220032	Poland	Zatoka Pucka i Półwysep Helski	Map
BEMNZ0002	Belgium	SBZ 1 / ZPS 1	Map
EE0040499	Estonia	Raudrahu	Map
DE1544302	Germany	Westrügensche Boddenlandschaft mit Hiddensee	Map
DE2104301	Germany	Borkum-Riffgrund	Map
PLH220023	Poland	Ostoja Słowińska	Map
DE1813391	Germany	Helgoland mit Helgoländer Felssockel	Map
DE1934302	Germany	Wismarbucht	Map
DE1011401	Germany	SPA Östliche Deutsche Bucht	Map
DE1648302	Germany	Küstenlandschaft Südostrügen	Map
DE2031301	Germany	Küste Klützer Winkel und Ufer von Dassower See und Trave	Map
BEMNZ0003	Belgium	SBZ 2 / ZPS 2	Map
PLH320019	Poland	Wolin i Uznam	Map
EE0040402	Estonia	Allirahu	Map
DE1315391	Germany	Küsten- und Dünenlandschaften Amrums	Map
PLH320017	Poland	Trzebiatowsko-Kołobrzeski Pas Nadmorski	Map
EE0010154	Estonia	Krassi	Map
EE0040421	Estonia	Kerju	Map
DE1447302	Germany	Jasmund	Map
NL3009005	Netherlands	Duinen Ameland	Map
DE1714391	Germany	Steingrund	Map
EE0040002	Estonia	Väinamere	Map
PLH220018	Poland	Mierzeja Sarbska	Map
EE0040490	Estonia	Vesitükimaa	Map
DE1747301	Germany	Greifswalder Bodden, Teile des Strelasundes und Nordspitze Usedom	Map
DE0916391	Germany	NTP S-H Wattenmeer und angrenzende Küstengebiete	Map
DE1251301	Germany	Adlergrund	Map
EE0040141	Estonia	Klaasrahu	Map
DE1345301	Germany	Erweiterung Libben, Steilküste und Blockgründe Wittow und Arkona	Map
DE1540302	Germany	Darßer Schwelle	Map
DE1934303	Germany	Erweiterung Wismarbucht	Map
DE1749302	Germany	Greifswalder Boddenrandschwelle und Teile der Pommerschen Bucht	Map
DE1343301	Germany	Plantagenetgrund	Map
PLH220072	Poland	Kaszubskie Klify	Map
SE0820751	Sweden	Marakallen	Map
FR3102003	France	Récifs Gris-Nez Blanc-Nez	Map
FR3102005	France	Baie de Canche et couloir des trois estuaires	Map
FR5302006	France	Côtes de Crozon	Map
FR5302008	France	Roches de Penmarch	Map
FR2502020	France	Baie de Seine occidentale	Map
FR2502019	France	Anse de Vauville	Map
FR7200811	France	Panache de la Gironde et plateau rocheux de Cordouan (Système Pertuis Gironde)	Map
FR5302007	France	Chaussée de Sein	Map
FR2502021	France	Baie de Seine orientale	Map
FR2502018	France	Banc et récifs de Surtainville	Map
NL2008003	Netherlands	Vlakte van de Raan	Map
NL2008002	Netherlands	Klaverbank	Map
NL2008001	Netherlands	Doggersbank	Map
FR3102004	France	Ridens et dunes hydrauliques du détroit du Pas-de-Calais	Map
FR3102002	France	Bancs des Flandres	Map
SE0630261	Sweden	Lövgrunds rabbar	Map
SE0810519	Sweden	Sydostbrotten	Map
IE0003000	Ireland	Rockabill to Dalkey Island SAC	Map
IE0002998	Ireland	West Connacht Coast SAC	Map
SE0420360	Sweden	Nordvästra Skånes havsområde	Map
SE0430183	Sweden	Havet kring Ven	Map
SE0430187	Sweden	Sydvästskånes utsjövatten	Map

Protected sites

Please note the site map takes a while to display.

Legal status

Mentioned in the following international legal instruments and agreements

Legal text	Annex	Conditions	More information
Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora - consolidated version 01/01/2007 (EU Habitats Directive)	Annex II: animal and plant species of community interest whose conservation requires the designation of special areas of conservation.		http://ec.europa.eu/environm...rective/index_en.htm
	Annex V: animal and plant species of community interest whose taking in the wild and exploitation may be subject to management measures.
Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats (Bern Convention)	Annex III: protected fauna species		http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/cul.../bern/default_en.asp
	Revised Annex I of Resolution 6 (1998) of the Bern Convention listing the species requiring specific habitat conservation measures (year of revision 2011)		https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc....ckColorLogged=FDC864 Resolution No. 6 (1998) of the Bern Convention lists the species requiring specific habitat conservation measures [and the designation of Areas of Special Conservation Interest (ASCIs) forming for the Emerald network]
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals. (Bonn Convention)	Annex II: migratory species which have an unfavourable conservation status and which require international agreements for their conservation and management, as well as those which have a conservation status which would significantly benefit from the international co-operation that could be achieved by an international agreement.	Synonym for this species is listed in Appendix II of the Bonn Convention (CMS). See there for more details.	http://www.cms.int/
	Annex II: migratory species which have an unfavourable conservation status and which require international agreements for their conservation and management, as well as those which have a conservation status which would significantly benefit from the international co-operation that could be achieved by an international agreement.	Only Baltic Sea populations
Agreement on the Conservation of Seals in the Wadden Sea. Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals. (Bonn Convention. Wadden Sea Seals.)	Phoca vitulina and Halichoerus grypus		http://www.migratoryspecies....ent/about-cms-family http://www.waddensea-secreta...ment/seal-management
Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (Helsinki Convention)	Threatened and/or declining species in the Baltic Sea		http://www.helcom.fi/action-areas/species-and-habitats

Common names and synonyms

Common Name	Language	Reference
Foca grigia	Italian	Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & al.
Foca gris	Spanish	Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & al.
Foca-cinzenta	Portuguese	Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & al.
Foka szara	Polish	Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & al.
Gråsäl	Swedish	Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & al.
Gråsæl	Danish	Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & al.
Grey seal	English	Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & al.
Grifok	Turkish	Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & al.
Grijze zeehond	Dutch	Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & al.
Grizje zeehond	Dutch	EC-DGXI.d2, ETC/NC
Hallhüljes	Estonian	Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & al.
Halli	Finnish	Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & al.
Havert	Norwegian	Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & al.
Ilgasnukis ruonis	Lithuanian	Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & al.
Kegelrobbe	German	Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & al.
Kúpos fóka	Hungarian	Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & al.
Pelekais ronis	Latvian	Latvian NRC
Phoque gris	French	Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & al.
Útselur	Icelandic	Mitchell-Jones, A.J. & al.

Synonym	Author
Phoca grypus	Fabricius, 1791
Halichoerus griseus	Nilsson, 1820
Phoca halichoerus	Thienemann, 1824
Halichoerus macrorhynchus	Hornschuch & Schilling, 1851
Halichoerus pachyrhynchus	Hornschuch & Schilling, 1851
Halichoerus grypus atlantica	Nehring, 1886
Halichoerus grypus baltica	Nehring, 1886

Other resources

CoL (accepted name)	Catalogue of Life
EoL	Encyclopedia of Life
Fauna Europaea	Fauna Europaea
GBIF	Global Biodiversity Information Facility
Habitats Directive Art. 17-2006 summary
ITIS (Valid name)	Interagency Taxonomic Information System
NCBI	National Center for Biotechnology Information
PESI (Accepted)	Pan-European Species directories Infrastructure
Wikipedia	Wikipedia
WoRMS	World Register of Marine Species

External data

No external data sets available for this species

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