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Bryce Duvendack
Cruea
WRIT 1120
15. Jan. 2023
The Threat Seals Face on the Alaskan Coast
From global warming to over-fishing, to general ocean pollution, many aquatic lifeforms
have taken a toll as far as population growth is concerned. In fact, it’s quite alarming in some
areas for certain animals, specifically for a variety of seal species around the Alaskan coast. With
rapidly declining populations of seals and even some on the brink of extinction, it leaves us with
the question, what is the best course of action to take to prevent these species of seals from going
extinct on the Alaskan coast?
Ever since I was a little kid one of my favorite animals has been the seal, so growing up
I’ve always been interested in them. Over the years it’s been alarming to hear about how many
different species of seals are nearing the brink of extinction around the world. It was even more
alarming to hear the most endangered species (and locations) of seals were all on the coasts of
the U.S. After doing some research I found that the glacial coast of Alaska was the most
prominent area for the decrease in seal populations. Many things come to mind when thinking
about why the glacial coast would be a problematic area; global warming, over-fishing, and
many other human/biological factors.
Climate change is one of, if not the biggest, reasons why the seal population is taking
such a large hit in the Alaskan region. In turn, habitat loss is one of the main problems arising
from the warmer climate. The glaciers and ice on the coast are getting smaller and smaller,
making it harder to survive for the average seal. Sea ice is where seals can rest, molt, give birth,
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and raise their young. Without the proper habitat, seals spend more time in the water which can
be dangerous as they are prey to larger sea mammals, along with the young seals who may not be
mature enough to swim or fend for themselves. With less habitat and more exposure in the ocean,
the predator/prey shift can be seen in some areas.
Another problem with the Alaskan coastal area would be the changing salinity of the
water which affects prey availability for the seals. The melting glaciers set the salinity of the
ocean off and can affect the distribution of marine life in key areas where seals live. With the
changes in prey availability, a variety of problems arise such as malnutrition and reduced
reproductive success. The health of seals on the Alaskan coast reflects the health of the
environment as a whole, a declining seal population means the health of the environment is
going down in turn. Not only is the seal population an important keystone in monitoring
environmental health, but they also contribute to biodiversity with their many species and are an
integral part of the food chain in the waters around Alaska.
Human activities are also a very large contributor to the declining seal population and are
one of the most realistically preventable issues we can look at. With the shrinking habitats human
activities push further and further into areas where they originally couldn’t. Cargo ships, oil rigs,
overfishing, and some Alaskan communities overly rely on seals for food, and clothing.
Government involvement via restrictions and regulations is the best way to directly slow the
effects of human involvement on the Alaskan coast. Acknowledging global warming and actions
to prevent it such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions would also help counter the rising
temperatures where most of the environmental problems stem from.
Among these substantial issues that are arising, there are still more that need to be taken
into account in order to help prevent even more damage to the seal population in Alaska. With
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the help of government mandates, regulations, and prevention efforts along with furthering
education on why the seal population is a pivotal factor in keeping the Alaskan coastal region a
healthy, stable environment.