The Finnish branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is demanding immediate tougher action to protect the highly-endangered Saimaa seal population. The strongly-worded call follows the third death of a pup since the end of a spring and early summer ban on certain types of fishing nets in their habitat.
The seals – which are endemic to Eastern Finland’s vast Saimaa lake system – are hovering on the brink of extinction with just over 300 individuals left. So far at least seven have died in nets this year. The latest fatality, a pup was found this past weekend, entangled in a permanently-banned type of fishing net in Haukivesi, near Varkaus and the boundary of Linnansaari National Park.
“There is not now time to wait for the end of the summer holidays,” WWF Finland Secretary General Liisa Rohweder said on Wednesday. “The Council of State’s regulations to protect the Saimaa seals should be immediately changed so that the ban on net fishing in Lake Saimaa can be extended as soon as possible. An expansion of the restricted area should also be studied so that it could be changed this autumn if necessary.”
The WWF says it has been in contact over the issue with Petteri Orpo, who took over a month ago as Minister of Agriculture, with responsibility for fisheries.
