The Arctic ringed seal and the Beringia distinct population segment of bearded seal are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We are in the process of developing recovery plans for these two species of ice seals.

Between April 4 and June 10, scientists from NOAA Fisheries’ Alaska Fisheries Science Center and the University of Washington’s Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies completed a comprehensive aerial survey to determine the abundance and distribution of spotted seals, ribbon seals, bearded seals, and ringed seals, throughout their range in U.S. waters of the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort…

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