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Grey seal males are considerably larger than the females. Of the three populations, the Northwest Atlantic grey seals are the largest, with males measuring up to 2.3 m and weighing 300-350 kg, and females measuring up to 2.0 m and 150-200 kg. The Northeast Atlantic grey seals appear smaller; males average about 2m in length and weigh 170-310kg; females average 1.8 m and 103-180 kg. Male grey seals are characterized by the long, arched, horse-like, or "Roman", nose, heavy shoulders and thick, folded skin of the neck region. The female’s nose is similar but shorter and narrower. The coat of mature males is dark brown, grey or black with lighter blotches on the neck and flanks. The female is lighter in colour, with dark spots on a grey, tan or yellowish background. In the water, grey seals tend to be solitary or in small groups, but on land they are gregarious and can be found hauled out with harbour seals in areas where the two species coexist. Each population breeds at a different time and variation within the populations also exist. Pups weigh 11-20 kg at birth and are weaned at about 3 weeks of age. At this time, mating occurs between waiting males and receptive females. Grey seals feed on a wide variety of fish, crustaceans and cephalopods. The diet varies with location, season and prey availability. Fasting occurs during the breeding and moulting seasons.

The Northwest Atlantic population is estimated at 85,000-110,000 animals. In1990, the Northeast population consisted of about 102,000 grey seals, 85,000 of them found off the coast of Britain. The Baltic grey seal is thought to number between 2,000 and 3,000 animals.

In the past, grey seals have been killed for their skins, meat and oil in the UK, Iceland, Canada and the Baltic. Bounties and cull programs have been initiated by different countries over the last century. Today, grey seals are rarely used as a resource but are considered a pest in certain areas; culling initiatives and directed takes by fishers continue to be initiated because of perceived competition for commercial fish species, gear damage and as hosts of codworm (Pseudoterranova decipiens). Grey seals in the Baltic and White Sea appear to be adversely affected by pollution and entanglement in fishing gear.

There are three different stocks. The West Atlantic stock ranges from Cape Chidley in the north of Labrador, through Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Nantucket, RI. The East Atlantic stock can be found on Iceland, the Faroe Islands, in Norway from Møye to North Cape, around the British Isles (where the majority of the seals can be found around the Hebrides) and some in the Wadden Sea, along the continental North Sea coast and in Brittany, France. Grey seals are found on both sides of the north Atlantic Ocean, separated into three distinct populations. The western Atlantic population is centred in the Canadian Maritime provinces, and is distributed from north Labrador down to New England, individuals occasionally wandering as far south as Virginia. The eastern Atlantic population is found mostly around the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as on the coasts of the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway, and northwestern Russia as far as the White Sea. Smaller groups are also found on the French, Dutch and German coasts, and wandering individuals have been found as far south as Portugal. A third population of grey seals, quite distinct from the eastern Atlantic population, is located in the Baltic Sea.