Three species of Arctic seals are dangerously approaching extinction due to global warming.
This was revealed in the latest update of the IUCN Red List presented at the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi.
The main cause of this threat is the accelerated loss of sea ice due to climate change.
This endangers the survival of these key mammals for the polar ecosystem by profoundly altering their habitat.
Seals in danger of extinction: the threatened species
The 2025 update of the Red List of Threatened Species shows critical changes in the conservation status of Arctic seals.
In particular, the situation of three species has worsened:
- The hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) moved from “Vulnerable” to “Endangered“;
- The bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) moved from “Least Concern” to “Near Threatened“;
- The harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) also moved from “Least Concern” to “Near Threatened“.
This is due to the rapid loss of polar sea ice: today, global warming occurs four times faster in the Arctic than in other regions of the planet.
This situation drastically reduces the extent and duration of the sea ice cover, a fundamental element for the survival of these animals.
The critical dependence of seals on sea ice
Arctic seals depend on sea ice to reproduce, raise their young, molt, rest, and access feeding areas.
The thinning and disappearance of ice directly affect their feeding habits and facilitate human access to the Arctic, increasing the risks for these species.
“Every year in Svalbard, the retreat of sea ice reveals how threatened Arctic seals have become, making their reproduction, rest, and feeding difficult,” explained Dr. Kit Kovacs, Co-chair of the IUCN Pinniped Specialist Group.
The climate threat not only affects Arctic seals but also walruses, other marine mammals of the Arctic, and subpolar species like the Caspian seal.
Why seals are key in the polar ecosystem
Ice-dependent seals are a fundamental food source for polar bears and indigenous peoples of the region.
Additionally, they play a central role in the food web by consuming fish and invertebrates and recycling nutrients.
Their disproportionate impact on the ecosystem makes them “keystone species“, meaning the health of the marine environment is directly linked to their survival.
“Protecting Arctic seals goes beyond these species; it’s about safeguarding the delicate balance of the Arctic, which is essential for all of us,” added Kovacs from the Norwegian Polar Institute.
All the threats faced by Arctic seals
In addition to climate change, Arctic seals face other pressures such as:
- Maritime transport;
- Noise;
- Oil and mineral exploitation;
- Hunting, and;
- Bycatch in fishing gear.
Therefore, experts propose the following critical steps to stop the decline of these populations:
- Safeguard key habitats;
- Reduce bycatch;
- Hunt sustainably, and;
- Minimize the impacts of noise.
Endangered species: the fundamental role of the IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List currently includes 172,620 species, of which 48,646 are endangered.
The update also revealed that more than half of the bird species worldwide are in decline, mainly due to deforestation.
However, there is good news: advances in the recovery of the green sea turtle thanks to decades of conservation efforts.
“The update of the Red List sheds light on both the urgent challenges and the powerful possibilities we have before us,” noted Dr. Grethel Aguilar, Director General of the IUCN.
The specialist also highlighted the importance of the upcoming Climate COP in Belém as the fundamental opportunity to accelerate protection actions.
