The need for a handbook to standardize techniques for studying Antarctic seals was recognized during the initial meetings of the SCAR Group of Specialists on Seals. Even during various discussions between experts about the results from various national Antarctic programmes, it became clear that a lack of standardization sometimes made it difficult to make direct comparisons between studies. For example, even apparently small variations, such as the use of different types of tags placed in flippers for long-term identification of individuals had the potential to cause differences in estimates of population parameters. The problems of lack of standardization in data collection were even more critical when less experienced persons were involved. In remote areas such as the Antarctic where the number of personnel on a base or a ship may be limited, scientific and non-scientific staff with no training in pinniped research are sometimes required to record various types of observations on seals. Similarly, from time to time, non-experts may have unique opportunities to record very important observations on seals. Without a standardized format that could be readily available to everyone; it was clear that valuable opportunities and data would be lost and the full scientific value of some studies might not be realised. Consequently, the SCAR Group of Specialists on Seals undertook to produce a handbook of standardized techniques for the study of Antarctic seals, the benefits of which would also carry over to the study of Arctic seals and facilitate more bi-polar comparisons.

Completion of this volume has taken longer than was originally envisaged.