I'm one of the guilty parties for dragging this topic, well... off topic. Sorry bout that.

So, back on track ...

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After doing some more research, this has me rather concerned about that area in general, for the seals and other creatures living there (outside of the hunting aspect) -- the link below has graphs and stuff in it for anyone interested.

http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/dimages/cus...ming_seals.pdf
If warm years with reduced ice coverage become the norm
– as appears to be the case – there will likely be additional effects
on ice-breeding seals, including both harp and hooded seals
(Johnston et al. 2005, Lavigne 2006). These include possible
effects on timing of reproduction (Lavigne and Kovacs 1988)
and the loss of critical breeding habitat. They also include
potential effects on fish and invertebrates, leading to changes in
availability of prey for seals, potential effects on seal predators,
e.g. killer whales, Orcinus orca, and concomitant effects on seal
condition, growth, reproductive success, and survival. A recent
examination of the potential effects of global warming on
marine mammals included harp and hooded seals among the
species expected to experience a reduction in the size of their
ranges if global warming continues (Learmonth et al. 2006).
Additional new research related links --

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/art...i?artid=339547
(originally publised by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association)

http://canadianveterinarians.net/Sho...ResourceID=378

http://ice-glaces.ec.gc.ca/App/WsvPa...?ID=1&Lang=eng
General interest, Ice Flow Data (Canadian Ice Service)