Arctic temperature rise threatens seal species
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, which tracks 172,620 assessed species, shows that 48,646 face some level of extinction threat. Among the six true seal species in the Arctic—harbor, ringed, harp, hooded, bearded, and grey—three have recently moved closer to extinction. The hooded seal has been reclassified from vulnerable to endangered, while the bearded and harp seals have shifted from least concern to near threatened. The IUCN identifies sea-ice loss due to global warming as the main driver of these changes.
According to the 2025 Arctic Report Card, surface air temperatures across the region from October 2024 to September 2025 were the highest on record since 1900. Autumn 2024 was the warmest season observed, and the 2024–2025 winter ranked as the second-warmest.
The consequences extend beyond climate: melting glaciers have increased maritime traffic, adding further pressure on seal populations. The Northern Sea Route has seen significant growth in shipping, with containerized cargo reaching about 400,000 tons in 2025—more than 2.5 times the previous year—and a record 15 container ship transits. Russia also projected a 50% increase in voyages by foreign vessels, driven by Asian demand for alternatives to routes such as the Suez Canal. These activities raise risks of ship strikes, noise pollution, and habitat disruption.
Henry Huntington, Arctic Sciences Director at a Washington-based conservation organization, highlighted the ecological importance of Arctic seals. “Seals serve as predators for fish and other marine creatures and are prey for polar bears, killer whales, and local communities,” Huntington said. He noted that ice is critical for feeding, shelter, birthing, and raising pups. Without sea ice, seals lose essential habitats, making them more vulnerable.
Huntington explained that while some seals may partially adapt, the limited land area in the Arctic cannot replace sea ice. Ice loss will also allow species from lower latitudes to move north, increasing competition for food and habitat with native Arctic species. The cascading effects extend to polar bears, Arctic foxes that scavenge bear leftovers, and reindeer populations, which have seen significant declines in recent years.
Despite these pressures, Huntington emphasized that human intervention can help mitigate threats. Protecting key areas from human activity is crucial to allow seals and other species to adapt as sea ice continues to diminish.
The Arctic spans roughly 14.5 million square kilometers across eight countries: Canada, the US (Alaska), Russia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark (Greenland), and Iceland. Since satellite monitoring began in 1979, summer sea ice has declined by about 12–13% per decade, equating to an annual loss of around 77,000 square kilometers—nearly half of the ice coverage compared with the 1980s, severely affecting ice-dependent species.
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