State gets more time to work against ice seal listing

Alaska will use the next 45 days to make its case that two species of ice-dependent seals should not be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act because of climate warming.

The National Marine Fisheries Service said Tuesday it would extend the comment period on its proposal to list ringed seals, the main prey of polar bears, and bearded seals. State officials object to the proposed listing.

Doug Vincent-Lang, endangered species coordinator for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, said the state has assembled data on seals and wanted time to analyze and present it to federal authorities.

The state has sued to overturn the listing of polar bears, claiming the designation of critical habitat could kill resource development projects important to Alaska. The state has maintained many of the same objections to listing seals that polar bears prey on. Their numbers have not declined, Vincent-Lang said.

"There's millions of ringed seals out there," he said.

Listing proposals have focused on habitat. The summer low for sea ice averaged 2.7 million square miles from 1979 to 2000. Sea ice has fallen far below that in recent years, including a record low 1.65 million square miles in summer 2007. Climate models project continued sea ice loss, possibly with ice-free summers by 2030.

Ringed seals are the smallest Arctic ice seals and the only ones that can live in completely ice-covered waters, using their claws to dig and maintain breathing holes. Ringed seals excavate snow caves on sea ice to provide insulated shelters for themselves and their pups.

Young ringed seal pups are susceptible to temperature stresses until they grow a blubber layer and shed the white, wooly coat they're born with. Early breakup of sea ice threatens lairs during critical rearing periods.

Bearded seals give birth and rear pups on drifting pack ice over shallow waters where prey, such as crab, is abundant. The retreat of sea ice from shallow shelves decreases food availability, according to the listing petition.

Vincent-Lang said the state has no objection to listing species that face a real risk of extinction within 15 to 20 years.

"When the numbers are high and aren't declining yet, and it's all based on speculation of what may occur into the distant future beyond 50 years, extending out to 300 years, yes, we have some serious reservations about that," he said.

State resources, he said, already are well-managed.

Julie Speegle of the National Marine Fisheries Service said representatives of the petroleum industry also requested the extension. The original 60-day comment period would have ended Tuesday.


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