Metsähallitus targets 170 more Saimaa ringed seals by 2032

Metsähallitus aims to increase the Saimaa ringed seal population from about 530 to 700 by 2032, Yle reports. The target is part of an 11.3 million euro Life project funded largely by the European Union.

The project will seek ways to reduce the mortality of seal pups and deaths caused by fishing gear, while protecting the seals’ habitats. Measures include developing fishing methods and expanding the network of artificial nesting sites.

Project manager Eija Hurme of Metsähallitus’s Nature Services said the target was based on the population’s growth in recent years. The number of Saimaa ringed seals has increased by a few per cent annually.

“If the population grows at the same rate over six years as it has in recent years, calculations suggest that it could reach figures as high as this,” Hurme said.

The project will also use the latest genetic research to improve conservation efforts. According to Metsähallitus, the Saimaa ringed seal has very low genetic diversity, which makes it harder for the species to adapt to a changing environment.

Hurme said this was typical of endangered and isolated species. As climate change causes snow and ice conditions to shift rapidly, the seals may not necessarily develop new ways to cope.

Three quarters of the project’s budget will be covered by the European Union’s Life programme. The Ministry of the Environment, the Nestor Foundation and the Raija and Ossi Tuuliai­nen Foundation are also supporting the project. Eight organisations are involved as partners.

The funding will be used for research and monitoring, the construction of auxiliary snowdrifts and artificial nests, and educational events. An exhibition about the Saimaa ringed seal will also be created at the Finnish Museum of Natural History.

“We aim to provide all citizens with information about the unique Saimaa ringed seal,” Hurme said. The project will also prepare information packages for decision-makers to support evidence-based decisions that benefit the seals.

In 2013, Metsähallitus set a similar goal of increasing the population from 300 to about 400 seals by 2025. That target was exceeded by more than 100 seals.