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Authorities remain unaware of the owner of the unmarked fishing net involved in this incident.
Image: Jouni Koskela
A tragic incident has unfolded near Lietvesi, where a young Saimaa ringed seal pup was discovered drowned in a fishing net, according to Finland’s wildlife agency, Metsähallitus.
Authorities estimate that the male seal, born just this spring, had been trapped in the net for approximately two weeks, a grim observation based on the condition of the carcass.
The remains of the seal will be sent to the Finnish Food Safety Authority for a thorough autopsy later this autumn.
Riikka Alakoski, a nature conservation expert at Metsähallitus, noted, “It appears that the net has been deliberately untied by opening the knots at both ends.”
She added that there have been similar past instances where seals caught in nets were not reported, with nets intentionally disconnected and left to sink along with the animals.
This particular net bore no markings and provided no information regarding its ownership, fishing rights, or anchoring details. Per the Fisheries Act, nets are required to be secured at both ends, which helps ensure tighter netting and minimizes the risk of entanglement.
According to the same law, any net owner who traps a Saimaa ringed seal must inform the authorities immediately, as this species is classified as highly endangered.
Additionally, a ban on fishing nets across the Saimaa lake system was reinstated earlier this year in an effort to protect these vulnerable creatures.
Metsähallitus emphasized the importance of reporting any dead or injured Saimaa ringed seals without delay. If a deceased seal is spotted in the water, it is crucial for finders to ensure that it isn’t swept away by currents.
The Saimaa ringed seal, a freshwater species endemic to the Saimaa lake system, is dwindling in numbers, with an estimated population of just around 400. Roughly 75 to 90 seals die annually, contrasted against nearly 100 pups that are born each year, according to reports from Metsähallitus.
The agency encourages anyone with information regarding this case to reach out to wildlife inspector Paavo Väisäinen at 040 158 2515.