Nunavut slams proposal to list ringed seals as threatened

People in Ottawa enjoy a feast of seal meat earlier this year. Eastern Arctic ringed seal populations are believed to number in the millions. (FILE PHOTO)

Updated Dec. 10, 2:19 p.m.

Nunavut’s environment minister blasted an American proposal to list bearded and ringed seals as threatened under that country’s Endangered Species Act.

“This senseless proposal is an unwelcome and misguided initiative that could negatively impact Inuit, who have strong cultural and economic ties to this important species,” said Daniel Shewchuk, Nunavut’s environment minister.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the proposal Dec. 3, saying four subspecies of ringed seals—including Arctic ringed seals—and two subspecies of bearded seals are threatened by climate change.

“The proposed listings cite threats posed by diminishing sea ice, and additionally, for ringed seals, reduced snow cover,” NOAA said in a news release.

Under the US Endangered Species Act, a species is considered threatened if it is “likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.”

But Shewchuk said both scientific studies and reports from Inuit hunters show that ring seal populations are healthy. He said it was irresponsible for the NOAA to propose listing Arctic seals as threatened when there’s no evidence populations are declining.

The Alaska branch of the Center for Biological Diversity, which lobbied for the listing, praised the move in a news release. Director Rebecca Noblin said declining polar ice levels and growing pressure to expand offshore oil drilling in the Arctic pose threats to seals’ survival.

“The Arctic is warming at twice the rate of the rest of the world, so no animal reliant on Arctic sea ice is safe,” she said.

Shewchuk acknowledged listing ringed seals as threatened wouldn’t have any direct impact on Nunavut’s sealing industry, because it’s already illegal to import any marine mammal parts into the United States.

But “it could fortify animal rights groups that are determined to disrupt trade in seal products,” Shewchuk suggested.

“Listing these as an endangered species will give fuel and fire to the environmental organizations and other groups that are opposing the seal industry,” he said.

Shewchuk said the Government of Nunavut will consult with regional Inuit associations and hunters and trappers organizations to determine the best way to oppose the listing. He also said he’s spoken to Gary Doer, Canada’s ambassador to the US about Nunavut’s position.