Gray seals are found in coastal waters throughout the North Atlantic Ocean. They are sometimes called "horseheads" (adult males in particular have large, horse-like heads) because of their large, curved noses. Gray seals gather in large groups during the mating/pupping and molting seasons. Outside of this, they often share their habitat with harbor seals.
Gray seals, like all marine mammals, are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. NOAA Fisheries is committed to conserving and protecting gray seals. Their scientists and partners use a variety of innovative techniques to study,
learn more about, and protect this species.
