05 December 2024: New study calls for rethinking ringed seal harvest sustainability under climate change

A recent study by Nater and colleagues, titled “Harvest sustainability assessments need rethinking under climate change: A ringed seal (Pusa hispida) case study from Svalbard, Norway”, was published in Ecosphere in October 2024. This research examines how climate change is affecting the sustainability of harvest practices for ringed seals in Svalbard.

Currently, the sustainability of ringed seal harvest is assessed using limited methods, relying on outdated surveys, sparse records and no set quotas. However, the study highlights that current assessment methods may not adequately account for the rapid environmental changes occurring in Arctic ecosystems. Declining sea ice and shifting habitat conditions are affecting ringed seal populations and their availability to hunters. The findings emphasise the importance of integrating climate change impacts into sustainability assessments to ensure long-term viability for both the species and the communities that rely on them.

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70020

Photo credit: Fernando Ugarte