Project LIFE Saimaa Seal - Safeguarding the Saimaa ringed seal

Abstract

The Saimaa ringed seal (Pusa hispida saimensis) is one of the most endangered and rarest seals in the world. The current population size is ca. 370 individuals, and the Saimaa seal is the only endemic mammal in Finland. The national conservation strategy and action plan for the Saimaa ringed seal was adopted in 2011 to improve the conservation status of the species. Even though the previous conservation efforts have been successful the seal still is endangered. The current seal population might overcome detrimental effects of a singular threat, but the combined effects of different threats may still be fatal to the population. The ongoing project LIFE Saimaa seal (duration 2013-2018) was targeted to reducing the key threats and problems identified in the conservation strategy. The objectives of the project were to reduce risks especially related to fishing, human induced disturbance, and climate change, thus helping to improve the conservation status of the species. The goals of the project were to produce updated knowledge on e.g. home range of seals and the potential threats, to reduce by-catch mortality, to adapt to the climate change by adapting a method of man-made snowdrifts to improve the breeding habitat during mild winters, and to reduce human-induced disturbances on seal. The project contributed to the development of the updated Conservation policy together with relevant parties for safeguarding more favourable environment for the seal in the future, and the results of the project have been used in the updating of the conservation strategy in 2017 and related fishing regulations in 2016. The Saimaa Seal LIFE project approached the protection of Saimaa ringed seals from a variety of different angles and searched solutions through the joint efforts of several partners. Overall awareness about the seal and its conservation is a key for effective conservation work. The project produced a wide range of information for the planning of the protection measures as well as communication and environmental education to various target groups. Metsähallitus Parks & Wildlife Finland coordinates the project that is implemented together with eight national project partners. The project budget is 5.26 million euros, of which the share of EU funding is ca. 3.95 million euros.