Since 1972, gray seals have been under federal protection under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which makes it a federal crime to kill, harass, or disturb a marine mammal in a way that changes its behavior. Due to this protection, approximately 4,000-6,000 seals have been recorded around Nantucket in the past few years with 1,892 pups born in 2005 on Muskeget.
The Gray Seal Research Fund was established to support research, data gathering and assessment, analysis and dissemination of information and research findings pertaining to gray seals, as well as their numbers, behavior and all factors affecting such behavior (such as prey and predators), and impact on coastal communities, including but not limited to the environmental, economic and cultural implications of their presence for affected communities.
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