Bearded Seal | Oceana
Home / Bearded Seal
Marine Life Encyclopedia > Marine Mammals > Bearded Seal

Bearded Seal

With their long white whiskers, it’s easy to see where the bearded seal gets its name! And the look isn’t just for show: these large seals use their sensitive whiskers to find prey on the seafloor.

 

The largest species of seal in the Arctic, bearded seals reach lengths of about 2.1-2.4 meters (7-8 feet) long and weigh up to 360 kilograms (800 pounds). Along with their distinctive mustaches, they stand out from other seals due to their square-shaped flippers and relatively small heads. Their whiskers, called vibrissae, help them search for bottom-dwelling prey like crabs, clams, shrimps, and fish near the ocean floor.  

Found throughout the Arctic and sub-Arctic, bearded seals prefer shallow coastal waters with drifting sea ice. They will haul out onto ice flows to rest and molt. Even when out of the water, seals stick to the edges of ice flows, often with their heads facing the water, in case they need to dive back in the water to avoid predators like polar bears. Bearded seals are solitary and territorial, tending to keep to separate ice flows unless it’s breeding season. When it’s time to mate, male bearded seals produce complex, minute-long songs, which they sing while swimming in slow circles – either to court females or to mark their territory to other males. 

 

 

Bearded seals are currently listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List. However, they are vulnerable to the growing impacts of climate change. As sea ice continues to melt and shrink, these seals may lose vital habitat needed for resting, pupping, and molting. They also may be at risk from increased shipping traffic and industrial development in the Arctic, as this can lead to potential oil spills and increased noise.

 

 

Reducing global carbon emissions is critical to preserving the sea ice habitats that bearded seals, and many other Arctic species depend on. Supporting policies that address climate change, reduce fossil fuel production, and protect Arctic ecosystems can help safeguard these remarkable animals for future generations. You can learn about Oceana’s campaign to protect our climate by stopping offshore drilling here.

 

 

 

GET INVOLVED

DONATE TODAY

SUPPORT OUR WORK TO PROTECT THE OCEANS BY GIVING TODAY

With the support of more than 1 million activists like you, we have already protected over 4 million square miles of ocean.

DONATE

TAKE ACTION NOW

SUPPORT POLICY CHANGE FOR THE OCEANS

Decision-makers need to hear from ocean lovers like you. Make your voice heard!

ACT NOW

VISIT OUR ADOPTION CENTER

SYMBOLICALLY ADOPT AN ANIMAL TODAY

Visit our online store to see all the ocean animals you can symbolically adopt, either for yourself or as a gift for someone else.

SHOP THE STORE

DOWNLOAD OCEAN ACTIVITIES

HELP KIDS DISCOVER OUR BLUE PLANET

Our free KELP (Kids Environmental Lesson Plans) empower children to learn about and protect our oceans!

LEARN MORE

FEATURED CAMPAIGN

Save the Oceans, Feed the World

We are restoring the world’s wild fish populations to serve as a sustainable source of protein for people.

Learn More

MORE CAMPAIGNS

Protect Habitat

Bycatch

Plastics

View All

CONTACT

Oceana International Headquarters
1025 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036 USA

General Inquiries
+1(202)-833-3900
info@oceana.org

Donation Inquiries
+1(202)-569-4895
wavemaker@oceana.org

Press Inquiries
+1(202)-833-3900
press@oceana.org

OCEANA'S EFFICIENCY

BECOME A WAVEMAKER

Sign up today to get weekly updates and action alerts from Oceana.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT WITH A DONATION

We have already protected over 4 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea life - but there is still more to be done.

Donate Now

QUICK LINKS: