Pinnipeds are the most commonly stranded, and most commonly rehabilitated marine mammals. Each year, hundreds of pinnipeds are released following treatment at rehabilitation centers, zoos and aquaria. Those animals that are reported are generally dead. The tags were programmed to transmit dive depth, duration and time at depth. Preliminary data indicate that three of the tagged seals most likely did not survive.
Dive patterns appear less complex with predominantly shallow, short dives.
Similarly, dive behavior differs greatly between species. Following release, most seals leave the release area and spend little time near or on shore, perhaps, in part accounting for the low level of resighting success from conventional, visual tags or marks.