Climate Change Threatens Two Seal Species - NOAA

Two species of seals, threatened by climate exchange and diminishing sea ice, may soon gain protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

NOAA`s Fisheries Service is proposing to list four subspecies of ringed seals, found in the Arctic Basin and the North Atlantic, and two distinct population segments of bearded seals in the Pacific Ocean, as threatened under ESA.

The proposed listings cite threats posed by diminishing sea ice, and additionally, for ringed seals, reduced snow cover. NOAA climate change models were exploited to forecast future sea ice conditions.

One of the five recognized subspecies of ringed seals, the Saimaa in Finland, is already listed as endangered under the ESA. Under the proposed rules published Friday in the Union Register, the remaining four subspecies of ringed seals-Arctic, Okhotsk, Baltic and Ladoga-would all be listed as threatened.

Ringed seals are base in the Arctic Basin (including the Behring Sea), western North Pacific (Sea of Okhotsk and Sea of Japan), and in the North Atlantic in the Baltic Sea and Lakes Ladoga and Saimaa east of the Baltic Sea.

Throughout most of its range, the Arctic ringed seal does not get ashore and uses sea ice for whelping, nursing, molting, and resting. Ringed seal pups are usually born in snow caves in the spring, and are vulnerable to freeze and predation without them. Timing of spring ice break-up, snow depths on sea ice, and late-winter rain can adversely affect snow cave formation and occupation. That the species produces only a single pup each class may define the ringed seal`s ability to answer to environmental challenges such as the diminishing ice and snow cover.

Because of these factors, NOAA`s Fisheries Service has found that these four sub-species of ringed seal are at peril of becoming endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant component of their ranges, warranting a list as threatened.

The bearded seal has two subspecies, one in the Pacific Ocean and the former in the Atlantic Ocean. Within the Pacific subspecies, there are two distinct population segments (DPS): the Okhotsk DPS, found in the Sea of Okhotsk; and the Beringia DPS, found in the Bering, east Siberian, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas. NOAA`s Fisheries Service is proposing to list both Pacific DPSs of bearded seal as threatened.

Both Pacific bearded seal DPSs are intimately associated with sea ice, particularly during the breeding and molting stages. They mainly feed on shallow-water organisms, making their range generally areas where seasonal sea ice occurs over relatively shallow waters. Forecasts predict that this ice will be considerably reduced within this century, particularly in the Sea of Okhotsk, and there is possible for the form and summer ice march to withdraw to deep waters of the Arctic Ocean basin.

Because of these factors, NOAA`s Fisheries Service has found that the two DPSs within the Pacific subpopulation of bearded seals are at hazard of becoming endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a substantial percentage of their ranges, warranting a list as threatened.

NOAA`s Fisheries Service previously determined listing was not required for another ice seal, the ribbon seal, which is less dependant on sea ice than bearded and ringed seals.