Bearded Seal (Beringia DPS): Threatened

Listed: 2013

Bearded seals are named for their long, white whiskers, which they use to find their prey near the sea floor. They are the largest arctic seal, weighing up to 800 pounds, are 7 to 8 feet long, and some can live to 40 years. They have tougher skin than many other seal species. This makes them highly valuable to the Inuit for making shoes, boat and tent covers, and dog harnesses. The Beringia distinct population segment is found off the coast of Alaska, over the continental shelf in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas. Climate change, increased shipping activity, and offshore oil and gas exploration/development are threats.

Steller Sea Lion (Western Distinct Population Segment): Endangered

Listed: 1990

The Steller sea lion is the largest sea lion in the world. Males can weigh up to 2,500 pounds (up to three times the size of females) and reach 11 feet long. They can live for up to 30 years. During the breeding season, adult males do not eat for up to 2 months while defending their territories from other males. They can hold their breath for 40 minutes and sprint away from large predators, like killer whales, at 25 miles per hour. Western distinct population segment Steller sea lions face threats from:

• Climate change, contaminants
• Fisheries on prey
• Illegal shooting, predation
• Toxic substances
• Interactions with and entanglements in fishing gear
• Disturbance
• Marine debris
• Disease and parasites
• Illegal feeding

Green (2016), Leatherback (1970), and Olive Ridley Sea Turtles (1978): Endangered; Loggerhead Sea Turtles (1978): Threatened

Sea turtles are marine reptiles that have existed more than 100 million years and lived alongside dinosaurs. They have light, porous bones that help them float. Sea turtles prefer tropical to subtropical waters but are sometimes found in Alaska. The gender of sea turtles depends on the nest temperature and warmer incubation leads to more females. Sea turtles are threatened by:

• Climate change
• Harvest of turtles and eggs
• Entanglement in fishing gear
• Loss and degradation of nesting habitat
• Marine debris
• Ocean pollution
• Predation of eggs and hatchlings
• Vessel strikes

NOAA Fisheries

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