Ice Seal Survey

by Greg Lincoln

Scientists studying the abundance and distribution of seals in the Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea, and Beauford Seas have completed their survey for the summer of 2025.

The researchers are from NOAA Fisheries’ Alaska Fisheries Science Center and the University of Washington’s Cooperative Institute for Climate, Ocean, and Ecosystem Studies. Their mission was to estimate how many Bearded, Ringed, Ribbon, and Spotted seals there are and where they are distributed within U.S. waters of the aforementioned seas.

They are also be studying how the seals are responding to changes in sea ice conditions.

To gather their info, the scientists took flights over specific grid areas throughout the extent of spring sea ice. Two NOAA aircraft flew at a target altitude of 1,000 feet where cameras were used to collect color, thermal, and ultraviolet images of the sea ice habitat below. These images will be processed using machine learning algorithms to identify animals on the sea ice and species will be determined by experienced ice seal biologists.

Why is this data important? Survey data are needed to derive abundance estimates of ice seals for sound planning and management decisions by agencies, and to conserve these species for the communities that rely on them as traditional resources.

That would be us. We, the Alaskan populations living near coastal regions, harvest marine mammals including seals. Seals are a very important part of our Yugtun culture. From seals we get uquq (seal oil), iron-rich meat, and pelts for making warm clothing. They are one of our most beloved resource.

On June 10, the NOAA teams flew the final aerial survey mission of the 2025 Ice Seal Survey. Throughout the season, flights originated from Nome, Bethel, Kotzebue, Barrow and Deadhorse. The survey team completed 58 survey flights totaling 39,663 km (24,645 miles) of “effort” beginning in April.

According to NOAA, this marks the end of the field portion of the project and the beginning of the data processing and analysis work. Both teams gathered enormous volumes of infrared images and digital color photographs that must now be processed to match “hot spots” in the infrared with animals in the photographs, and identify the animals (seal species, polar bear, walrus, etc.) that were detected. Then the data will be analyzed statistically to estimate the total abundance of seals and bears.

“The field project would not have been possible without the generous assistance of many people, organizations, and welcoming communities. We thank you for your support and look forward to sharing our results with you! Until then, best wishes from the Ice Seal team!”

This project is included in the annual Alaska Ice Seal Research Plan which describes research priorities for ice-associated seals in Alaska, and was developed by the Alaska Native Ice Seal Committee’s Co-management Working Group.