Sable Island supports the world's largest Grey Seal breeding colony.  An estimated 40,000 pups were produced during the December 2003 through February 2004 breeding season.  This population provides unique opportunities to study the ecological role of seals in the Scotian Shelf region.  The Grey Seals, as well as the Island’s Harbour Seals, have been studied since the 1960s by Fisheries & Oceans Canada and by researchers from various institutions and universities both in Canada and abroad.