Feds Mull Threatened Listing for Arctic's Ringed Seals

Last month, the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) finally concluded its study on the proposed status of the Ringed Seal under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which was originally instigated by a petition through the Center for Biological Diversity in 2008.

After more than a year, pages upon pages of research, and a court mandate to finalize the findings, due to a lawsuit, also by the Center for Biological Diversity, the definitive answer is in:  These seals are threatened by climate change.  But it's not that easy, and, unfortunately, the ringed seals aren't being listed just yet.

If NOAA listed the ringed seal,  it would become the second species declared threatened because of climate change. This means not only that the administration would have to admit to the serious realities of a warming planet, but also impose restrictions on greenhouse gas emitting development, a mandate that's gotten politicians and corporations a bit uncomfortable.

Originally the Obama administration had suggested that there was plenty of ice, and if it melted someday, the seals would simply move to another location, or even adapt to land. Sounds scientific, huh? Contrary to these suggestions, the final report concludes that "current atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases are sufficient to continue warming the climate and diminishing ice and snow cover throughout the century. The changes to the ice and snow habitats of ringed seals are forecasted to be rapid, relative to generation time, challenging the species’ ability to respond adaptively."

Despite some of the best minds in science compiling an extensive report on the reality of the situation, politicians in Alaska and parts of Canada have already decided to disagree. This is not because they have found a different answer, nor because they plan on cutting emissions or limiting risky offshore drilling in the future, but simply because it's bad for business. We began a petition at the end of the year to urge Alaska's ESA coordinator, Doug Vincent-Lang to work for threatened seals and not against them. Now we need to do more.

These seals need sufficient, deep snow cover and thick ice to breed and raise their young. While females reach sexual maturity at 4 years, males do not reach maturity until age 7. This means that seal numbers grow very slowly, but can decline rapidly as the global temperature rises.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) want to know if you think the seals should be saved. Tell them here that you do, by submitting a comment on the proposal.  All comments must be submitted by February 8th, 2011.

Scientists have determined that "the ringed sea is likely to become endangered throughout all or a significant portion of their range in the foreseeable future."  We need to act now to protect this species and to set an example for the US and other nations that climate change is having real effects on our ecosystem.

Tell NMFS to protect the Ringed Seal here.

Sign the Petition to Doug Vincent-Lang here.

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Photo Credit: NOAA