Seals (Secondary)
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Lesson duration is: 45 minIntroduction
Seals are under threat from a number of issues, including entanglement in abandoned fishing nets, plastic pollution, fishing industry and hunted for fur and skins.
Instructions
In this lesson we will be talking about seals and learning about the issues impacting their survival.
Time: 45 minutes
Contact: education@seashepherdglobal.org
© Sea Shepherd 2021
Instructions
Worksheets
Items in this lesson
Slide 1 - Slide
Introduction
This lesson is provided by Sea Shepherd. Sea Shepherd is a marine conservation organisation with a mission to protect the ocean and marine wildlife. Sea Shepherd works globally on a range of issues impacting the ocean, running numerous direct action campaigns each year. Seals are one species that Sea Shepherd protects.
This lesson is provided by Sea Shepherd. Sea Shepherd is a marine conservation organisation with a mission to protect the ocean and marine wildlife. Sea Shepherd works globally on a range of issues impacting the ocean, running numerous direct action campaigns each year. Seals are one species that Sea Shepherd protects.
Slide 2 - Slide
During the lesson we will use these icons to identify the learning actions.
Slide 3 - Slide
Lesson summary
In this lesson we will be talking about seals and learning about the issues impacting their survival.
INTERACTIVE JOIN – ask students to go to www.LessonUp.app
In this lesson we will be talking about seals and learning about the issues impacting their survival.
INTERACTIVE JOIN – ask students to go to www.LessonUp.app
Slide 4 - Video
Empty ocean by 2050
Scientists estimate that by 2050 the ocean ecosystem will be on the verge of collapse, empty of fish and marine wildlife, unless urgent action is taken on the issues impacting the ocean and marine wildlife.
Show this video (2.53min), which explains how important all species are to our planet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLcA31VRlRU
Discuss the video with the class and what it means.
Scientists estimate that by 2050 the ocean ecosystem will be on the verge of collapse, empty of fish and marine wildlife, unless urgent action is taken on the issues impacting the ocean and marine wildlife.
Show this video (2.53min), which explains how important all species are to our planet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLcA31VRlRU
Discuss the video with the class and what it means.
Slide 5 - Slide
Pinnipeds
There are around 33 species in the pinniped family.
Pinnipeds include seals, sea lions and walruses.
There are around 33 species in the pinniped family.
Pinnipeds include seals, sea lions and walruses.
What do you already
know about seals?
know about seals?
Slide 6 - Mind map
Seal species
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“What do you know about seal species?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“What do you know about seal species?
Crabeater Seal
Harp Seal
Grey Seal
Australian Sealion
Slide 7 - Drag question
Seal species
Identify some common seal species – Match images and names.
Identify some common seal species – Match images and names.
Slide 8 - Slide
Seal or Sea lions
Seals and sea lions, are both from the pinniped family, but they have different features. Ask students to identify the key differences?
Sea lions:
Seals:
Seals and sea lions, are both from the pinniped family, but they have different features. Ask students to identify the key differences?
Sea lions:
- Can walk on land using large flippers.
- Are noisier – bark loudly.
- Visible ear flaps.
- Hind flippers rotate under body when on land.
- Use front flippers when swimming.
- rown colouring.
Seals:
- Smaller front flippers
- Wriggle on bellies when on land.
- Lack the ear flaps, ear hole visible.
- Hind flippers point out.
- Fur covered long claws on hind flippers.
- Seals use hinder flippers when swimming.
- White to grey or black in colour.
What food sources do seals eat?
Slide 9 - Open question
What do seals eat?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“What do seals eat?”
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“What do seals eat?”
- Fish, squid and krill.
- Some actually eat other seals and penguins – leopard seals.
Slide 10 - Slide
How do seals breathe
How do seals breathe underwater?
They actually exhale oxygen before diving, then they use the oxygen in their blood stream. Seals can slow their heart rate and breathing when they are underwater.
While they may only dive for a few minutes at a time, seals can stay underwater for much longer.
Elephant seals can stay under water for up to two hours.
How do seals breathe underwater?
They actually exhale oxygen before diving, then they use the oxygen in their blood stream. Seals can slow their heart rate and breathing when they are underwater.
While they may only dive for a few minutes at a time, seals can stay underwater for much longer.
Elephant seals can stay under water for up to two hours.
Slide 11 - Slide
Importance to the ocean
Seals are one of the top predators in the marine ecosystem, helping to maintain the balance. They feed on fish species that are predatory and can disrupt the balance if not kept in check.
Seals are one of the top predators in the marine ecosystem, helping to maintain the balance. They feed on fish species that are predatory and can disrupt the balance if not kept in check.
Slide 12 - Slide
Hunting seals
Seals have been the target of hunters for many centuries and are still being hunted for commercial reasons in some countries.
Hunters have been responsible for wiping out many colonies over the years, both in the southern and northern hemisphere. This has left some species with significantly reduced populations, which have only started to recover since the 1980’s.
Seals are hunted for their fur/skins, for meat and the blubber for seal oil. Seal oil is used in capsules and marketed as fish oil supplements.
The Canadian seal hunt is the most infamous. With an annual quota of 400,000 harp seals.
Seals have been the target of hunters for many centuries and are still being hunted for commercial reasons in some countries.
Hunters have been responsible for wiping out many colonies over the years, both in the southern and northern hemisphere. This has left some species with significantly reduced populations, which have only started to recover since the 1980’s.
Seals are hunted for their fur/skins, for meat and the blubber for seal oil. Seal oil is used in capsules and marketed as fish oil supplements.
The Canadian seal hunt is the most infamous. With an annual quota of 400,000 harp seals.
Slide 13 - Slide
Conflict with fisheries
Feeding on fish, as a main food source, seals often come into conflict with fishermen and have been the target of hunters looking to wipe out complete populations.
Seals will eat cod, salmon and sea trout, and the fishermen therefore regard them as competition.
It is natural for seals to feed on fish, yet globally domestic cats consume more fish than seals do.
Feeding on fish, as a main food source, seals often come into conflict with fishermen and have been the target of hunters looking to wipe out complete populations.
Seals will eat cod, salmon and sea trout, and the fishermen therefore regard them as competition.
It is natural for seals to feed on fish, yet globally domestic cats consume more fish than seals do.
Do you think it is right that fishermen target
seals for eating their natural food source - fish?
Slide 14 - Open question
Conflict with fisheries
Ask students answer via www.LessonUp.app or discuss in classroom:
“Do you think it is right that fishermen target seals for eating fish as their natural prey?”
Ask students answer via www.LessonUp.app or discuss in classroom:
“Do you think it is right that fishermen target seals for eating fish as their natural prey?”
If fish numbers are reducing
in an area, what do you think
the causes might be?
in an area, what do you think
the causes might be?
Slide 15 - Mind map
Reasons for reducing fish numbers
Ask students answer via www.LessonUp.app or discuss in classroom:
“If fish numbers are reducing in an area, what do you think the causes might be?”
Ask students answer via www.LessonUp.app or discuss in classroom:
“If fish numbers are reducing in an area, what do you think the causes might be?”
- Overfishing of fish species by humans.
- More predators are moving into the area, after their usual feeding areas have been overfished.
- Environmental changes – pollution or changing climate warming the waters.
- Local marine species populations are starting to recover, after populations had previously been wiped out by hunters, such as seals and whales.
Slide 16 - Slide
By-catch in nets and long lines
Seals are often caught as by-catch in the nets of the commercial fishing industry. By-catch means that they are not the intended catch. Seals may be released from the nets, but do not always survive the traumatic experience.
Long lines are more dangerous for seals. Baited hooks entice them into a free fed, soon finding themselves caught on the hook.
The use of illegal net types, in areas where seals feed, can result in them becoming entangled and drown.
Seals are often caught as by-catch in the nets of the commercial fishing industry. By-catch means that they are not the intended catch. Seals may be released from the nets, but do not always survive the traumatic experience.
Long lines are more dangerous for seals. Baited hooks entice them into a free fed, soon finding themselves caught on the hook.
The use of illegal net types, in areas where seals feed, can result in them becoming entangled and drown.
Slide 17 - Slide
Abandoned, lost and dumped fishing gear
ALD fishing gear or ghost nets as they are referred to, are difficult to see in the water, trapping seals as well as other marine wildlife.
For more information on this topic see the Lesson: Abandoned, Lost and Discarded fishing gear.
ALD fishing gear or ghost nets as they are referred to, are difficult to see in the water, trapping seals as well as other marine wildlife.
For more information on this topic see the Lesson: Abandoned, Lost and Discarded fishing gear.
Slide 18 - Slide
Oil spills and chemical pollution
Oil disasters can leave marine wildlife coated in oil, making it impossible to breathe. The dispersants used to break up oil on the surface causes the oil to break up and drop to the ocean floor, coating the ocean floor in a sludge. The dispersants are also toxic for marine animals. Making the oil disappear from the surface, does not mean the problem is solved. It’s still there, literally under the surface.
Oil disasters can leave marine wildlife coated in oil, making it impossible to breathe. The dispersants used to break up oil on the surface causes the oil to break up and drop to the ocean floor, coating the ocean floor in a sludge. The dispersants are also toxic for marine animals. Making the oil disappear from the surface, does not mean the problem is solved. It’s still there, literally under the surface.
Slide 19 - Slide
Plastic pollution
Plastic pollution is an issue for all marine wildlife.
Each year over 12 million tonnes of trash finds its way into the ocean, adding to pollution already in the ocean.
Ask students: “What do you think happens if seals encounter rubbish in the ocean?”
Seals can’t always distinguish the difference between rubbish and food and when they do it might be too late, and they may have already swallowed it or been caught up in it.
Plastic pollution kills millions of marine animals each year.
Plastic pollution is an issue for all marine wildlife.
Each year over 12 million tonnes of trash finds its way into the ocean, adding to pollution already in the ocean.
Ask students: “What do you think happens if seals encounter rubbish in the ocean?”
Seals can’t always distinguish the difference between rubbish and food and when they do it might be too late, and they may have already swallowed it or been caught up in it.
Plastic pollution kills millions of marine animals each year.
How do you think you can
help protect seals?
help protect seals?
Slide 20 - Mind map
How can you help seals?
Ask students to answer via www.LessonUp.app or discuss in classroom.
“How do you think you can help protect seals?”
Ask students to answer via www.LessonUp.app or discuss in classroom.
“How do you think you can help protect seals?”
Slide 21 - Slide
Ways to help protect seals:
- Advocate against seal hunts and the killing of seals by fisheries.
- Reduce your consumption of fish.
- Help fight illegal fishing.
- Help create ways to stop fishing gear being left in the ocean.
- Help fight plastic pollution – reducing single use plastics and doing beach clean ups.
Name five threats to seals?
Slide 22 - Open question
Ask students to answer the following question via www.LessonUp.app or discuss in classroom.
“Name 5 threats to seals?”
“Name 5 threats to seals?”
Identify three differences between
seals and sea lions?
Slide 23 - Open question
Ask students to answer the following question via www.LessonUp.app or discuss in classroom.
“Identify 3 differences between seals and sea lions?”
“Identify 3 differences between seals and sea lions?”
Write down three things you have learned?
Slide 24 - Open question
What did you learn?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“Write down three things you have learned?”
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“Write down three things you have learned?”
Write down one thing you didn't understand?
Slide 25 - Open question
What don’t you understand?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“Write down one thing you didn’t understand?”
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom.
“Write down one thing you didn’t understand?”
Slide 26 - Slide
Case Studies
Sea Shepherd Case Studies cover a number of Sea Shepherd campaigns and show video of some of our work to protect seals. These can be used to enhance the learning experience from these lessons.
Sea Shepherd Case Studies cover a number of Sea Shepherd campaigns and show video of some of our work to protect seals. These can be used to enhance the learning experience from these lessons.
Slide 27 - Slide
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