December 3, 2014 — The federal agency that oversees the U.S. seal population has proposed 350,000 square miles of ocean off Alaska's north and west coast as critical habitat for the main prey of polar bears.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Tuesday that it's proposing critical habitat for ringed seals throughout U.S. jurisdiction in the Beaufort and Bering seas and in much of the western Bering Sea.
"After reviewing the best available information, our scientists identified the habitat features that are essential for sustaining Arctic ringed seals – a species that is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future due to climate change," said James Balsinger, NOAA Fisheries Alaska regional administrator, in the announcement.
The public will have 90 days to comment.
A critical-habitat designation means federal agencies that issue permits for activities within the designated waters, such as proposed petroleum drilling in the Chukchi, must consult with NOAA Fisheries to determine effects on ringed seals.
Read the full story from the Associated Press here