Marine Mammals of the Bering Sea

The ecosystems of the Bering Sea are undergoing a series of changes, with no apparent end in sight.  Moving beyond the species targeted for fishing, the problems continue.  Fish-eating predators like endangered Steller sea lions, sea birds, and northern fur seals have declined sharply as fishing has removed millions of tons of their prey. 

A common thread linking these predators is their reliance on Alaska pollock, the target of the largest food fishery on the planet.  NMFS has concluded that the pollock fisheries are likely to jeopardize Steller sea lion survival and recovery and adversely modify their habitat, and concern is growing that the fisheries may be responsible for the rapid disappearance of northern fur seals from the once massive rookeries on the Pribilof Islands.

Learn more about the marine mammals of the Bering Sea

• Humpback Whale
• Blue Whale
• Orca(Killer Whale)
• Grey Whale
• Beluga Whale
• Finback Whale
• Pacific White-sided Dolphin
• Polar Bear
• Ringed Seal
• Bearded Seal
• Ribbon Seal
• Harbor Seal
• Steller Sea Lion
• Northern Fur Seal
• Walrus
• Sea Otter