Many seal species both in the Arctic and Antaractic regions are reluctant on sea ice for their survival. Because of global climate change, the loss of ice may result in the extinction of of these seal species. Losing ice in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions, many species of seals are facing climate change with distrubing results. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, “almost no seal pups, dependent on sea ice, survived in Canada’s Gulf of St. Lawrence during the ice-free years of 1967, 1981, 2000, 2001, and 2002.” The southern hemisphere seal population also has been affected by the lack of ice. It has been concluded by sceintists that warming climate is changing the ocean’s ecology so bad that the survival of seals have become a concern to marine biologist.
The Harp Seal is located in the Arctic and northern Atlantic Oceans. In order for a harp seal to give birth to the pup seal and to nurse them, they need the ice platform, but with the loss of ice due to climate change, which is threatening it's survival. If there isn't ice for the harp seal to give birth on, they can give birth in the water but the pups will die. And if the ice isn't thick enough due to climate change, the wind and waves may break the ice, where the pups and mother seals may be seperated or crushed by the breaking ice. In 2010, 90 percent of harp seal pups born in the Gulf of St. Lawrence are thought to have died due to lack of ice.
To counteract the threats of climate change and changing ice conditions and give seals a chance at survival, governments must reduce other, non-climate-related threats to seal population such as commercial hunting. In 2016, about 66,800 pups were slaughtered in commercial hunting in canada. The Canadian Goverment allows the slaughter and killing of pup seals because of the high demand of fur.
The Harp Seal is located in the Arctic and northern Atlantic Oceans. In order for a harp seal to give birth to the pup seal and to nurse them, they need the ice platform, but with the loss of ice due to climate change, which is threatening it's survival. If there isn't ice for the harp seal to give birth on, they can give birth in the water but the pups will die. And if the ice isn't thick enough due to climate change, the wind and waves may break the ice, where the pups and mother seals may be seperated or crushed by the breaking ice. In 2010, 90 percent of harp seal pups born in the Gulf of St. Lawrence are thought to have died due to lack of ice.
To counteract the threats of climate change and changing ice conditions and give seals a chance at survival, governments must reduce other, non-climate-related threats to seal population such as commercial hunting. In 2016, about 66,800 pups were slaughtered in commercial hunting in canada. The Canadian Goverment allows the slaughter and killing of pup seals because of the high demand of fur.