Diseased Ice Seals and Unusual Mortality Events
UMEs for ice seals in the Bering and Chukchi Seas of Alaska.
2018-2019 Ice Seal Unusual Mortality Event in Alaska (CLOSED)
NOAA Fisheries closed the investigation into the Unusual Mortality Event affecting stranded bearded, ringed, and spotted seals in Alaska.
NOAA Fisheries closed the investigation into the Unusual Mortality Event (UME) affecting stranded bearded, ringed, and spotted seals in Alaska, acting on a recommendation from the Working Group on Marine Mammal Unusual Mortality Events. The UME occurred from June 1, 2018 through December 31, 2019 with peak strandings between June 1, 2018 and August 31, 2019. NOAA Fisheries and partners investigated the event.
Learn more about the 2018–2019 ice seal UME
2011–2016 Unusual Mortality Event
This UME occurred from May 1, 2011 to December 31, 2016, involving primarily ice seals including ringed seal (Pusa hispida), bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), ribbon seal (Histriophoca fasciata), and spotted seals (Phoca largha) in northern and western Alaska. The minimum estimate of the total number of impacted seals was 657 seals, which included 233 dead stranded seals, 179 subsistence hunted seals, and 245 live seals that stranded or were sampled during permitted health assessments studies. The investigation identified that clinical signs were likely due to an abnormality of the molt, but a definitive cause for the abnormal molt and the UME was not determined.
Disease Fact Sheets
- June 2016 Update to the 2011 Arctic Pinniped UME (PDF, 1 page)
- May 2014 Update to the 2011 Northern Pinnipeds UME (PDF, 3 pages)
- February 2014 Update to the July 2011 Northern Pinnipeds UME (PDF, 2 pages)
- March 2012 Update to Northern Pinnipeds (Ice Seals & Walruses) UMEs (PDF, 3 pages)
- November 22, 2011 Update on Investigation and Findings for Arctic Seal Disease Outbreak (PDF, 4 pages)
- November 10, 2011 Update: 2011 Arctic Seal Disease Outbreak Fact Sheet (PDF, 4 pages)
Disease Outbreak Flyers
- Unusual Mortality Event
- Update, March/April 2013
- Questions and Answers, June 2012
- Investigations and Findings, February 2012
- Preliminary Assessment of Radionuclide Exposure
- Public Health Guidance for Contact with Marine Mammals
- Bering Strait Region Disease Flier, Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program, November 2011
- Arctic Region Disease Flier, North Slope Borough, August 2011