Saimaa Ringed Seal Pup Drowns in Legal Fish Trap as Death Toll Rises
A Saimaa ringed seal pup has drowned in a legal fish trap in Lake Saimaa, marking the seventh fishing gear-related death of the species this year. The incident, reported to Metsähallitus on Monday, involved a small female born this spring, which managed to enter the trap despite it being equipped with a seal excluder.
The trap was located in a fishing restriction area at a depth of 5–7 meters, where net fishing is prohibited until June 30 (Yle). The pup, weighing approximately 14 kilograms, drowned in the fish chamber of the trap (MTV Uutiset). The carcass has been frozen and will be sent to the Finnish Food Authority for an autopsy (Yle).
Alarming Death Toll and Poor Breeding Conditions
The death toll for Saimaa ringed seals in fishing gear this year has now reached seven, an unusually high number compared to the past decade. Metsähallitus reports an average of six fishing gear-related deaths per year over the last ten years, making the current situation particularly concerning (MTV Uutiset).
Miina Auttila, Senior Specialist in Nature Conservation at Metsähallitus, highlights that the poor breeding conditions have exacerbated the situation. The winter’s low snowfall and short duration left pups without adequate nest protection, increasing mortality among those born in February–March. The small size of the drowned pup, weighing only 14 kilograms, reflects these challenging conditions (Yle).
Auttila states that, in addition to fishing gear mortality, the Saimaa ringed seal population is struggling due to these exceptionally poor breeding conditions (MTV Uutiset). The species remains critically endangered, with only around 400 individuals estimated to be living in Lake Saimaa.