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Safeguarding the Saimaa Ringed Seal LIFE12NAT/FI/000367

Saimaa Seal Life

The Saimaa Seal LIFE project promotes the protection of the Saimaa ringed seal and the achieving of a favourable conservation status for it. The project implements the strategy and action plan for the protection of the Saimaa ringed seal. The project produces a wide range of information for the planning of the protection measures, e.g. to mitigate contradictions between fishing and seal conservation.

Information on the amount and quality of the recreational fishing in the areas inhabited by Saimaa ringed seal are produced as well as information on the water owners and fishermens attitudes towards seal and its conservation. Causes of seal deaths are assessed and evaluated how far incidental by-catch levels of Saimaa ringed seal are from biological sustainability. Fishing methods that are safe for the seal in professional fishing are developed.