1. Female reproductive status of marine mammals -particular emphasis of seals The concept of using reproductive parameters of seals as core indicator for GES within Helcom is based on -the female reproductive status is sensitive for contaminants and starvation -top predator, highly exposed to persistent chemicals - reproductive parameters signalled for harmful effects already in the 1970s in Baltic grey and ringed seals -pregnancy rate was 9 % in the Baltic grey seals in the 1970s to mid 1980s - pathological changes are still found the reproductive tract in ringed seals - strong evidence for relationships with POPs

2. Female reproductive status in marine mammals Stage of developmentIndicator type CoreState Legislative linkage: Primary importanceSecondary importance BSAP Segment and Objective Biodiversity - Healthy wildlife Biodiversity: - Thriving and balanced communities of plants and animals -Viable populations of species Hazardous Substances: - Concentrations of hazardous substances close to natural levels MSFD Descriptors and Criteria D1. Biodiversity D1.3. Population condition D1. Biodiversity D1.1 Species distribution (range, pattern, covered area) D1.2 Population size (abundance, biomass) D4. Food webs D4.1. Productivity of key species or trophic groups D4.3 Abundance/distribution of key trophic groups/species D8. Contaminants D8.2. Effects of contaminants Other relevant legislation: WFD - Chemical quality, Habitat directive

3. Reproductive parameters (seals) Pregnancy rate: -measured as percent pregnant females in the pregnancy period, 6-24 years old Birth rate: – measured as corpora albicantia/uterine postpartum signs between the time of ovulation and implantation in 7-25 years old females Ovulation rate: – Determined from corpus luteum (CL) in ovaries (April-June for grey and ringed seals, Harbour seals- to be determined) Reproductive health: – measured as percent uterine pathological changes (uterine obstructions and leiomyoma) in seals older than 6 years and in any season

4. Uterus and ovaries of a grey seal female Photo: Charlotta Moraeus

5. Female reproductive status of marine mammals Concept/ design Coordinated monitoringAssessment Research needs for operationalization (in relation to needs stated under the coordinated monitoring and assessment columns) Data arrangements Monitoring strategy (method, frequency, spatial resolution) in relation to relevant indicator parametersTechnical guidelinesGeographic scale Assessment method GES / assessment criteria (currently all GES are provisional) A ) in place B) under development C ) not available, what needs - action level? A ) monitoring in place B ) monitoring needs revision C ) monitoring not available, what needs - action level? A ) in place B ) needs revision, what needs doing C ) not available, what needs - action level? HELCOM assessment units: A ) identified B) Identified not described C) not identified, what needs - action level? A ) available and described B ) available not described C ) not available, what needs - action level? A ) proposed and described B ) proposed but needs more supporting data C ) not available, what needs - action level? A ) in place B ) needs revision, what needs doing C ) not available, what needs - action level? B - Harbour porpoise needs to be developed - TM B - clarification on type of samples used in monitoring needed - TM B - differing alternative methods to be unified - TM B - units to be clarified - TM AB- % unclear for harbour seal and harbour porpoise Carrying capacity needs to be better included - TM Harbour porpoise background data lacking, also southern ringed seal and harbour seal populations lack data. B - data submission arrangements to be incoorporated into the indicator to be discussed, preliminary strategy and schedual agreed among experts -TM, HELCOM B - Pregn rate in Harbour seals need to be compiled and evaluated, different reproductive parameters need to be compared in ringed and grey seals -TM B - under discussion B – no changeB – units need to be clarified when it is clear if the same GES-boundary will apply for all seals (of a certain species) AB- % unclear for harbour seal and harbour porpoise - TM Harbour porpoise background data lacking, also southern ringed seal and harbour seal populations lack data. B – no change current situation (action level = who needs to complete the task) Beginning of CORESET II

6. Female reproductive status of marine mammals - GES Bäcklin B-M (Sweden), Kunnasranta M and Isomursu M (Finland). Health assessment in the Baltic grey seal (Halichoerus grypus). HELCOM Indicator Fact Sheets 2008 (Ringed seals since 2010) In 2012 “Pregnancy rates of marine mammals” was a proposed Core Indicator for Biodiversity In 2014 spring meeting in Stockholm (Fin+Swe) we renamed the Core indicator to “Female reproductive status of marine mammals” as we not determine only the pregnancy rate The age interval used for the reproductive status has been modified from 4-20 year to 6-24 year (for pregnancy rate) and 7-25 years (for post partum signs) in grey and ringed seals. The age class in not yet determined for harbour seal

7. Female reproductive status of marine mammals - GES Good environmental status is determined when the “pregnancy rate” is above a threshold level (=GES) defined by Swedish and Finnish hunted grey seals from 2008-2009 GES is sat to the lower 95% confidence interval. GES is reached when 80 % of the females are pregnant/or show post reproductive signs (in an increasing population). The same GES boundary has been suggested for ringed seals. Whether or not similar GES limits can be suggested for harbour seals and harbour porpoises remains to be investigated Data will mainly be presented as trends. Reproductive data will be presented in five years interval for grey seals, intervals for ringed and harbour seals are not decided yet People involved today: Britt-Marie Bäcklin, Charlotta Moraeus, Tero Härkönen, Swedish Museum of Natural History Kaarina Kauhala, Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute Marja Isomursu, Finnish Food Safety Authority, EVIRA Ursula Siebert, Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation

8. Female reproductive status of marine mammals HELCOM Assessment Unit Level: 2 The indicator is applicable in: For grey seals, results are considered applicable for the whole Baltic Sea, whereas the ringed seal results may apply only to Bothnian Bay. For harbour seals data is applicable on the Swedish West coast. Currently data is available : From the Swedish and Finnish coast of the Baltic Sea and Swedish West coast. Missing data: Bay of Riga, Poland Germany, Denmark for seals. All areas for Harbour Porpoises

9. Female reproductive status of marine mammals List of issues that still need to be solved for the indicator Describe what is hindering solving the issue The age class is not yet determined for harbour seal Whether or not the same GES limit (as for grey seal) can be suggested for harbour seal remains to be investigated (same GES-boundary value for the whole Baltic Sea?) Can we compare pregnancy rate and post reproductive signs in grey seals? Do we need a GES limit also for post reproductive signs if they differ from ”pregnancy rate” Any differences in ”preg rate” between different areas (grey seals) (is this preg rate as a “reference value” that might still meant that the assessment units should be given on level 2 with different values for different sub-basins? What’s needed in order to find out? Historical data?) Assessment unit level 1 or 2? Seals are mobile. Storage of data? Ongoing work in the BALSAM project on a data-base that might be considered further (e.g. upcoming SEAL meeting) All work on harbour porpoises