Whale experts warn that the bowhead stocks are sensitive to noise and could be driven further off shore by the disruption of drilling . That in turn would have an impact on their chances of survival , which have already been harmed by early side-effects of global warming .
Earlier this week , another branch of the interior department gave shell the go-ahead to begin exploratory drilling in the beaufort seat , which is home to large numbers of endangered bowhead whales , walruses and seals as well as polar bear .