Top Northern Fur Seal Fishing Countries

The northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) is a marine mammal known for its thick, luxurious fur and is found primarily in the North Pacific Ocean, especially around the Pribilof Islands, the Bering Sea, and the Sea of Okhotsk. Historically, the species was heavily hunted for its valuable pelts, leading to severe population declines in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The primary countries involved in the northern fur seal harvest were Russia (formerly the Soviet Union), the United States (notably Alaska), and Japan, with Canada also participating at times. International agreements, such as the North Pacific Fur Seal Convention of 1911, were established to regulate and eventually curtail commercial hunting to prevent extinction. Today, commercial hunting of northern fur seals is largely banned, with only limited, regulated subsistence harvests allowed for indigenous peoples in Alaska and Russia. The modern fishing industry no longer targets northern fur seals commercially, focusing instead on conservation and population monitoring.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.