The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is working to protect a “critical habitat” for the Arctic ringed seal, a threatened species native to Alaskan waters.
According to NOAA public affairs officer Julie Speegle, the proposed habitat would encompass the northern Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort seas – a region that provides ice conditions critical to the seals’ survival.
“Critical habitat is a term defined and used in the Endangered Species Act,” Speegle said. “It’s the geographical area that contains features that are essential to the conservation of a threatened or endangered species.”
The Arctic ringed seal was classified as a threatened species in December 2012, but NOAA says the animals are “likely to become ‘endangered’ in the…future due to climate change.” Ringed seals nurse and protect their pups in snow caves, which are threatened by late sea ice formation and early break-up.
Speegle said the designation of a critical habitat would ensure that activities in the region do not “destroy or adversely modify that critical habitat.” That would include any activity requiring federal funding, permitting or authorization, she added.
This has drawn criticism from supporters of oil and gas development, including Senator Lisa Murkowski.
In a press statement issued Tuesday, Senator Murkowski said she is concerned the designation would “severely impact economic development” in the region – which stretches from the Yukon-Kuskokwim delta to Alaska’s northern border with Canada.
Josh Kindred is Legal and Regulatory Affairs Manager with the Alaska Oil and Gas Association. He agreed that the 350,000 square mile proposed habitat raised some concerns.
“For some context, that’s about 100,000 square miles larger than Texas,” he said. “The whole purpose of the designation is to identify those areas that are critical to the survival and recovery of the species. By simply suggesting that an area this large is all critical seems at least…problematic.”
NOAA said extent of the proposed critical habitat is “necessarily large because Arctic ringed seals have a wide geographic range.” Speegle explained the seals have existing migration patterns that encompass the proposed area.
Brandon Ahmosuk is Subsistence Director for the Native non-profit Kawarek. He said he supports further protections of the ringed seal – an important Native food source – but is disappointed by the lack of tribal consultation so far.
Ahmosuk also noted that a formal protection on the seals’ habitat — therefore the animals’ food source — could have unintended consequences for the commercial fishing industry.
NOAA said a critical habitat designation would not affect subsistence hunting of the seals, but would likely result in restrictions on oil and gas activities, marine transportation, port development and commercial fishing.
Still, Speegle emphasized that the proposed habitat protection is just that: A proposal.
There will be a 90-day public comment period and NOAA will hold public hearings in Anchorage, Barrow, Kotzebue and Nome in the coming weeks. The dates and times of those hearings have yet to be announced.
