Understanding ecology of ringed seals to enhance monitoring and support sustainable management and green transition in changing environment (SealHabitat)

As top predators, the Baltic ringed seal and the endangered Saimaa ringed seal play vital roles in their ecosystems, with the Bothnian Bay serving as a critical habitat for the whole Baltic subspecies in the changing climate. Despite some recovery from historical exploitation, both populations face increasing human pressures, especially from changes in land and marine area use. This highlights the need for customised management strategies to balance their survival with human interests. The sustainable management of ringed seals is critical for maintaining the ecological balance of their respective habitats amid climate change and human activities. Given their high dependence on ice for breeding and their vulnerability to varied anthropogenic pressures such as offshore wind farms, habitat degradation via land usage, and other human-induced threats, a tailored approach combining comprehensive data collection, risk assessment, development of monitoring tools in a joint effort between Finland and Sweden is essential.

SealHabitat is a crossborder project, which combines methodologies, such as telemetry, aerial surveys and passive acoustic monitoring in an innovative way, while benefitting from existing data and knowledge. The project aims to strengthen the understanding of ringed seal ecology and to recommend novel monitoring methods and sustainable management practices that balance ecological preservation with local economic growth. SealHabitat intends to enhance the understanding and protection of ringed seals and their critical habitats, ultimately aiming to prevent negative impacts from human activities. The efforts of the project will include delivering detailed spatial data on seal key habitats, developing best practices and monitoring tools to support biodiversity and sustainable development, and raising public awareness on the importance of conserving ringed seals and their ecosystems in the target areas.