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| undernourished female sedated on Svalbard, BBC |
The National Marine Fisheries Service announced December 2nd it was proposing a 350,000 square mile critical habitat in the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas for the Ringed seal. The seal was designated endangered in 2012. Ring seals are dying in unprecedented numbers due to higher temperatures melting their snow caves where pups are reared. The Ringed seal is the favorite prey of the Polar bear. Polar bears are facing starvation as seal numbers plummet. The proposed designation is the largest in history. If an area is designated critical habitat for an endangered species, federal agencies are prohibited from permitting, funding or performing actions that adversely modify the area. Oil companies are certain to oppose the measure since they are expending large sums including purchases of federal offshore leases in preparation for exploiting Arctic oil and gas deposits. Shell Oil is continuing to press the federal government for drilling permits in ringed seal habitat. The Arctic is predicted to be ice free in summer by mid-century. This year's summer sea ice was the sixth lowest size on record; the lowest extent was recorded in 2012.
The public is invited to submit comments to the agency during a 90 day comment period on the proposed designation. The agency is expected to finalize the rule by December 2015. The identifying docket number is
NOAA-NMFS-2013-0114