A head pops out of the surf and drinks in its surroundings with an insatiable curiosity. It is a seal. The Wadden Sea’s seals frequent shallow areas, sunning themselves on the beaches, but also swimming into deeper waters in search of food.

Attempts have been made to determine where the seals living in the Wadden Sea swim when they are hungry, but seals are incredibly capable swimmers, so it has not previously been possible to trace their wanderings. However, there has been some indication that they swim along the south side of Horns Rev in search of food.

Elsam/Eltra are participating in a pilot study in which a quantity of seals will be tagged. These seals will be captured in the fall of 2001 and bear the satellite transmitters until the spring of 2002, when they moult again. Via the transmitters, it will be possible to follow the seals on their wanderings and determine to what extent they search for food in the offshore wind farm area.