Dabin, W.D.

Doom, M.

Haelters, J.

Jauniaux, T.

Kerckhof, F.

Steyaert, A.

Open Marine Archive

- 58 - 
 
Grey seals Halichoerus grypus choking on common sole Solea 
solea 
Haelters Jan1, Willy Dabin2, Marjan Doom3, Francis Kerckhof1, Alexander Steyaert3 and Thierry Jauniaux4 
1 Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), Operational Directorate Natural Environment, 
 3de en 23ste Linieregimentsplein, 8400 Oostende, Belgium 
 E-mail: jan.haelters@naturalsciences.be  
2 Observatoire PELAGIS, UMS3462 - Université de La Rochelle - CNRS, Pôle analytique, 5 Allées de 
 l’Océan, 17000 la Rochelle, France 
3 Department of Morphology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 
 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium 
4 Department of Pathology, Veterinary College, University of Liège, Sart Tilman Bat B43, 4000 Liège, 
 Belgium 
Between 2007 and 2015, we recorded three cases of asphyxiation of grey seals Halichoerus grypus 
caused by a fish lodged in the respiratory tract. In all cases, the fish involved was a common sole Solea 
solea, which had found its way to the trachea of the unfortunate seal, as such completely blocking it.  
 
That this fish species was involved, is not surprising: it has a very agile body, with a spectacular ability 
to bend longitudinally into a circular shape, as well as laterally into the form of a cigar - the way it was 
found in the gluttonous grey seals. The common sole currently occurs abundantly in coastal waters of 
the southern North Sea, and it constitutes an important part of the diet of grey seals in this area.  
 
Asphyxiation due to fish has been described in odontocetes, including in harbour porpoise Phocoena 
phocoena, bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus, and very recently in long-finned pilot whale 
Globicephala melas. To our knowledge however, this cause of death has not been described before in 
grey seals. Furthermore, the significance of this cause of mortality in a single population has not been 
documented, with in particular aspects of prey abundance, seal behaviour and the limited number of 
stranded adult grey seals that are being investigated to be considered. 
 
Keywords: grey seal; Halichoerus grypus; common sole; Solea solea; asphyxiation; respiratory tract 
  


Grey seals <i>Halichoerus grypus</i> choking on common sole <i>Solea solea</i>

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