In celebration of the Endangered Species Act’s 50th Anniversary, NOAA is featuring the marine mammal and sea turtle species found in Alaska that are protected under the ESA. The Endangered Species Act provides a framework to conserve and protect endangered and threatened species, habitats, and the ecosystems upon which they depend across Alaska and the country. […]
Steller sea lions were once abundant throughout the North Pacific, and Indigenous peoples and settlers used them for meat, hides, and oil. The Western distinct population segment is endangered, while the Eastern population has recovered and is no longer listed. Steller sea lions are the largest of the “eared seals,” with males weighing up to 2,500 pounds. These […]
(Juneau) — The State of Alaska and the North Slope Borough took action to convey their disagreement with the rejection by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of a joint Endangered Species Act (ESA) delisting petition for the Arctic ringed seal. The two entities submitted a letter June 28th notifying NMFS that they intend to […]
9th Circuit Overturns Decision That Walruses Don’t Require Endangered Species Act Protection SAN FRANCISCO— The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that the Trump administration’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service improperly denied Endangered Species Act protections to the Pacific walrus. The Wildlife Service found in 2011 that the Pacific walrus warranted protection because […]