San Francisco Bay Area Network
Harbor Seals 
Harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) are the dominant and only year round resident pinniped in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Within the San Francisco Bay Area, the population at Point Reyes represents the largest concentration of harbor seals in the State of California, other than the Channel Islands. Much of the Point Reyes coastal zone remains fairly pristine and provides excellent marine and terrestrial habitat for seals to rest, molt, feed, and breed where human encroachment is minimal. Long-term monitoring studies of harbor seals have been conducted at selected colonies for 30 years, and are currently conducted at 7 locations along the Point Reyes seashore and at Point Bonita in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Field Surveys
- Surveys are conducted weekly at 12 sites during the breeding season (March - June) of each year.
- Bi-monthly surveys are conducted for all pinnipeds year-round.
For more information on becoming a volunteer, contact the Harbor Seal Coordinator.
Project Updates 2009
Harbor Seal Update and Summary Graphs - 8/3//2009
Harbor Seal Update and Summary Graphs - 7/8/2009
Annual Reports