NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking comments by Tuesday, March 9 on revisions to its previously proposed designated habitat in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas for the threatened Arctic ringed seal subspecies.
NMFS separately announced that it is seeking comments by Tuesday, March 9 on its proposal to designate critical habitat in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort Seas for the Beringia distinct population segment of the Pacific bearded seal subspecies.
In conjunction with the proposed designations, NMFS will hold public hearings to be announced in a future notice.
Pursuant to a settlement agreement with the Center for Biological Diversity, NMFS agreed to submit proposed critical habitat designations for both subspecies by March 15, 2021 and final rules by March 15, 2022.
