Polar bear sow and cubs. Photo by Steven Kazlowski.
Comments Due April 8, 2026
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting public comments on a proposed rule that would allow the incidental take of small numbers of polar bears and Pacific walruses during oil and gas exploration, development, and transportation activities in the Beaufort Sea and along Alaska’s North Slope.
The proposal would authorize these activities for a five-year period, while requiring mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures intended to reduce impacts to marine mammals and their habitat.
Why This Matters
Polar bears and Pacific walruses rely on Arctic marine and coastal environments for feeding, resting, and migration. Industrial activities such as seismic surveys, drilling operations, and transportation can disturb animals, disrupt habitat, and affect subsistence uses important to coastal communities.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act allows federal agencies to authorize incidental take only if impacts are limited and mitigation measures are in place. Public comments help ensure that these protections are strong enough to safeguard marine mammals and the ecosystems they depend on.
Public Comments Are Open
The public comment period provides an opportunity for individuals, communities, and organizations to share perspectives on the proposed authorization and the measures intended to minimize impacts to marine mammals.
Read the proposed rule and submit a comment here:
https://www.regulations.gov/document/FWS-R7-ES-2026-0694-0001
Public participation helps ensure that decisions affecting Alaska’s wildlife, subsistence resources, and Arctic ecosystems are carefully considered.
If you’re unsure what to write, you may use the language below as a starting point and personalize it if you wish:
I support strong protections for polar bears and Pacific walruses under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Industrial activities in the Beaufort Sea and along Alaska’s North Slope should include robust safeguards to minimize disturbance to marine mammals and their habitat. These species are important to Arctic ecosystems and to subsistence communities that depend on healthy marine resources. Any authorization for incidental take should prioritize precaution, strong monitoring requirements, and meaningful protections for wildlife and subsistence uses.