Where do seals live around the world?

Seals are found throughout the world, though they are especially abundant in polar seas. While they primarily inhabit rich marine environments, their specific habitats vary by species.12

• Marine Environments: Many seals favor the open ocean, while others inhabit coastal waters, islands, shores, or ice floes. For example, the Weddell seal is found around the South Pole on or near the coast of Antarctica.13
• Freshwater Environments: The Baikal seal is unique as the only living seal that inhabits freshwater environments exclusively, specifically Lake Baikal and some of its feeding rivers in Siberia, Russia.45

Depending on the species, seals may be sedentary in coastal areas or undertake extended, regular migrations across the open sea. All seals, however, must come ashore or onto ice at least once a year to breed.162