Common Seal
Phoca vitulina
The harbor seal, also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. The most widely distributed species of pinniped, they are found in coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Baltic and North seas.
32
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbor_seal
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Phocidae
Genus
Phoca
Common Seal belongs to the family Phocidae, order Carnivora, within the Mammalia class.
Species Profile
The harbor seal, also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. The most widely distributed species of pinniped, they are found in coastal waters of the northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Baltic and North seas.
Common Seals face severe threats from habitat degradation, pollution, and human disturbance across their coastal range. Climate change is altering prey availability and ice dynamics in northern populations, while marine pollution including plastics and chemical contaminants continues to impact reproduction and survival rates. Conservation status may vary by region or assessment authority.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Coastal waters, estuaries, and nearshore marine environments including rocky shores, sandy beaches, and mudflats used for hauling out and pupping. Also utilizes sea ice edges in Arctic regions and sheltered bays with access to shallow feeding areas rich in fish and invertebrates.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Common Seals face severe threats from habitat degradation, pollution, and human disturbance across their coastal range. Climate change is altering prey availability and ice dynamics in northern populations, while marine pollution including plastics and chemical contaminants continues to impact reproduction and survival rates. Conservation status may vary by region or assessment authority.
Climate change impacts on prey and ice habitat
Entanglement in fishing gear and nets
Habitat loss and coastal development
Human disturbance at haul-out sites
Marine pollution and chemical contamination
Found in 32 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Common Seal (Phoca vitulina). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/common-seal