Group seeks endangered species listing for Alaska lake seals

[Judi Lynn]

Dan Joling, Associated Press
Updated 6:48 pm CST, Thursday, February 6, 2020



Photo: Dave Withrow, AP
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In this June 17, 2011, photo provided by NOAA Fisheries are freshwater seals at Iliamna Lake, in Alaska. An environmental group is petitioning the federal government to list a population of freshwater Alaska seals under the Endangered Species Act. The Center for Biological Diversity on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020, petitioned to provide protections to harbor seals that live at Iliamna Lake in southwest Alaska. (Dave Withrow/NOAA Fisheries via AP)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The only known freshwater harbor seals in the U.S. should be listed as threatened or endangered, an environmental group said Thursday in its second petition for the animals.

The Center for Biological Diversity petitioned for additional protections for the 400 harbor seals that live at Iliamna Lake in southwest Alaska.

“Without Endangered Species Act protection, we risk allowing these seals to fall victim to the world’s wildlife extinction crisis,” said Kristin Carden, a biologist with the group.

The seals are threatened by climate change, Carden said.

“If the lake ice is not as prevalent, that presents problems for the seals,” she said.

Development of a proposed massive copper and gold mine, the Pebble project, is a more immediate threat, according to the group.

More:
https://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Group-seeks-endangered-species-listing-for-Alaska-15035909.php



freshwater seals at Iliamna Lake