The harbor seal is the only pinniped that breeds along Puget Sound. Deep diver The harbor seal can plunge 300 feet and stay underwater up to 28 minutes. It can swim a fast 15 knots. White Before Birth Most harbor seal pups shed a white wooly coat before they are born. Sometimes pups are born in the water.
Pups can often swim after birth, when the tide returns.
From 1947 to 1960 a bounty was placed on seals because it was believed they ate significant amounts of commercially valuable fish. During that time it is estimated 17,000 seals were killed. Today, seals are protected from killing by the Federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. It is against the law to hunt, capture, kill, harass or otherwise disturb seals or any other marine mammal. Harbor seals may haul out almost anywhere along Puget Sound.