ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT PROFILE

PROTECTION STATUS: Not listed

PETITIONED: 2012

RANGE: Iliamna Lake seals live exclusively in the northeastern half of Lake Iliamna, Alaska. Seals are found in high numbers on numerous islands and utilize shallow waters near islands and river and stream outlets for hunting.

THREATS: Climate change, ocean acidification, Pebble Project development, and other large-scale mine development in the Bristol Bay region.

POPULATION TREND: A lack of reliable data makes estimating the seals' population trend difficult. The total population of seals in the lake is estimated at between 250 and 350 adults.

Iliamna Lake seal photo by Dave Withrow, NOAA