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Bush Administration Denies Protection to Arctic Seal
Threatened by Global Warming

NOAA Fisheries Ignores Climate Science and Concludes Ice-Dependant Ribbon Seals Do Not Warrant Protection Under Endangered Species Act

ANCHORAGE, Alaska— The Bush administration today denied protection for the ribbon seal under the Endangered Species Act. The ribbon seal, an ice-dependant inhabitant of the Bering and Chukchi seas off Alaska, is threatened by global warming and the consequent loss of its sea-ice habitat, as well as recent decisions to open its habitat to oil development.

Today’s decision, made by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, in response to a petition by the Center for Biological Diversity, concluded that sufficient sea ice would remain in the ribbon seal’s habitat by the end of the century for the species to survive. However, independent scientists have predicted that summer sea ice in the Arctic could be entirely gone as early as 2012 and almost certainly by 2030, while the winter ice upon which the ribbon seal depends will also be greatly diminished in the coming decades.

“The denial of protection for the ribbon seal ignores the science on global warming and ignores the law. We are confident it will be overturned by either the courts or the new administration,” said Brendan Cummings, oceans program director at the Center. “Today’s decision is reflective of how badly the scientific integrity of NOAA and other federal agencies has been damaged under the Bush administration.”

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Learn more about the Center's work to save the ribbon seal.

Contact: Brendan Cummings