Editing Ringed seal (section)

==Human interactions==
[[File:Ringed seal 1 2000-08-13.jpg|thumb|Preparation of the ringed seal]]
[[File:Phoca (pusa) hispida (Ringed seal) fur skin.jpg|thumb|Skin of the ringed seal.]]
Ringed seals have long been an important component of the diet of Arctic [[indigenous peoples]] throughout their range, and continue to be harvested annually by many communities.<ref name="NOAA"/> [[Early Paleoeskimo]] sites in [[Arctic]] [[Canada]] revealed signs of harvested ringed seals dating from c. 4000–3500 [[Before Present|BP]], likely captured in frozen cracks and leads in the ice, with a selection for juveniles and young adults.<ref name="Murray 2005">{{cite journal |last1=Murray |first1=M. S. |title=Prehistoric Use of Ringed Seals: A Zooarchaeological Study from Arctic Canada |journal=[[Environmental Archaeology]] |date=2005 |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=19–38 |doi=10.1179/env.2005.10.1.19|bibcode=2005EnvAr..10...19M }}</ref>

In 2012 the Government of [[Nunavut]] warned pregnant women to avoid eating ringed seal [[liver (food)|liver]] due to elevated levels of [[Mercury (element)|mercury]], although they stressed eating traditional "country food" is still healthy for adults.<ref>{{cite web |date=28 June 2012 |title=Study says ringed seal liver dangerous for pregnant women |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/study-says-ringed-seal-liver-dangerous-for-pregnant-women-1.1219765?cmp=rss |website=CBC News}}</ref>

[[Bycatch]] in fishing gear, such as commercial trawls, is a threat to ringed seals. Climate change is potentially the most serious threat to ringed seal populations since much of their habitat is dependent upon pack ice.<ref name="NOAA"/>

=== Conservation in the United States ===

The estimated population size for the Alaska stock of ringed seals is 249,000 animals. In 2010 the trend in numbers for this population was unknown.<ref name="NOAA"/> Ringed seals are listed as a species of "least concern" by the [[IUCN]],<ref name="iucn status 13 November 2021" /> and were considered 'not threatened' under the [[Endangered Species Act]] in 2006. Reliable estimates of the minimum population, potential biological removal, and human-caused mortality were not available in 2006. The level of annual U.S. commercial fishery-related mortality or injury was considered insignificant. The Alaska stock of ringed seals is not considered a strategic fishery stock.<ref name="NOAA 2006"/> In 2008 the US [[National Marine Fisheries Service]] began a conservation status review under the [[Endangered Species Act]] (ESA) to determine if listing this seal under the ESA is warranted.<ref>[https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2008-09-04/html/E8-20544.htm "Notice of 90-Day Finding on a Petition to List the Three Ice Seal Species as a Threatened or Endangered Species"]. ''[[Federal Register]]'' '''73'''(61). 28 March 2008.</ref>