Endangered Saimaa Seal Pup Found Dead in Fishing Net in Finland

A young Saimaa ringed seal, a critically endangered species, was found dead in Liperi, Finland, after becoming entangled in a fishing net. The seal pup, which was born this year and weighed 22.5 kilograms, was discovered in a gillnet that was part of a larger 180-meter fishing gear assembly. The incident occurred outside of a designated fishing restriction zone meant to protect the seals.

This discovery is particularly concerning as it represents the twelfth Saimaa ringed seal found dead in fishing gear this year. Of these, eight were caught in nets, three in traps, and one in a fish trap equipped with a seal guard. The deceased seal was a male, identified as a pup based on its size.

Miina Auttila, a conservation expert at Metsähallitus Natural Heritage Services, noted that while the majority of seal deaths in fishing gear typically happen within restricted areas, this case serves as a stark reminder that seals also venture and live outside these protected zones. The total number of seal deaths in fishing gear this year already exceeds the threshold considered sustainable for the species' recovery.

The population of the critically endangered Saimaa ringed seal is estimated at around 530 individuals. Metsähallitus estimates that only about one-third of such fishing-related seal deaths are actually reported, despite a legal obligation for net owners to report such incidents. The increasing trend in seal deaths linked to fishing gear is a significant threat to the long-term survival of this unique seal population.

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The vast majority of Saimaa ringed seal deaths in fishing gear occur in fishing restriction areas, but this case serves as a reminder that seals also move and live outside of restricted areas.