Saimaa ringed seal pup found drowned in fishing net, eleventh death this year
A Saimaa ringed seal pup was found dead in a fishing net in Haukivesi, Rantasalmi, on Wednesday, marking the eleventh recorded case of a seal drowning in fishing gear this year. The incident occurred in Tuunaanselkä, east of Hevossalo, an area designated as a fishing restriction zone to protect the critically endangered species.
The dead seal was spotted by a bystander moving on the water, who reported the discovery to authorities. According to Metsähallitus, the male pup, likely born this spring, had fishing net wrapped around its head. The mesh size of the net was approximately 65 millimetres, with a thread thickness of up to 20 millimetres, which falls within the permitted net specifications in the restriction zone since the beginning of July. The carcass showed signs of decomposition, suggesting the seal had become entangled in the net earlier in July (Yle).
Metsähallitus notes that this is the fourth case this year where a dead seal has been reported by a bystander, indicating that the actual number of deaths may be higher than recorded. Over the past decade, an average of six Saimaa ringed seals have died annually in fishing gear, but this year’s figures already exceed that number (Ilta-Sanomat).
Riikka Alakoski, Senior Specialist in Nature Conservation at Metsähallitus, emphasised that every fishing trap in Lake Saimaa increases the risk of seal deaths. She called for urgent measures to reduce trap-related mortality, warning that further losses could hinder the population’s recovery. The Saimaa ringed seal population is estimated at around 530 individuals, with the species facing multiple threats, including hazardous fishing gear, climate change, habitat degradation, human disturbance, and its small population size (Ilta-Sanomat).
Under the Fishing Act, fishing gear owners are legally obligated to report any dead or injured Saimaa ringed seals they encounter. The incident highlights ongoing challenges in balancing fishing activities with the protection of one of Finland’s most endangered species.