Histriophoca fasciata (Zimmerman, 1783) —Ribbon Seal

Phoca fasciata Zimmerman, 1783 p.277; Type locality- Kurile Islands; Won, 1958 p.436; Won, 1967 p.92.

Histriophoca fasciata: Won, 1968 p.341; Kim, 2004 p.197.

Range: The species occupies the coastal areas of Korea and is considered rare (Kim 2004; Fig. 63). A record exists for the Daedong River estuary of North Korea (Won 1968).

Remarks: Fedoseev (1984) did not find morphological differences between populations in eastern and western North Pacific Ocean, supporting the monotypic status of this species.

Conservation status: The Ministry of Environment of South Korea listed this species as Endangered in 1997, but subsequently delisted it because of occasional discoveries in coastal areas of Korea. However, the Ministry of Land, Transports and Maritime Affairs safeguarded H. fasciata as a Protected Marine Species.