Seals

The grey seal and the ringed seal belong to game species in Finland. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry looks after the seal populations in the Baltic Sea, whereas around the Åland Islands it is the responsibility of the Government of Åland. The Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute carries the responsibility for monitoring and researching the Baltic seal populations.

The grey seal has greatly increased in numbers. Photo: Mervi Kunnasranta

Wide-ranging research on seals

Some of the main tasks of the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute's seal research are scientific research on the abundance, distribution and the way of life of seals and on the impacts of seal populations.

Some important areas of the research and the follow-up are the nutrition of seals, their reproductive health and ranging habits, their population abundance and distribution and diversity. In addition, surveys are underway on the impact of seals on fisheries and the damage caused, and on how to prevent that damage. Attitudes of various interest groups concerning seals are also surveyed. The research results are employed in many different ways in the management of the Baltic seal populations.

The management policies for the Finnish Baltic Sea seal populations are presented in the Management plan for the Finish Baltic Sea seal populations prepared under the direction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Projects

Grey seal (in Finnish)
Baltic ringed seal (in Finnish)
Saimaa ringed seal (in Finnish)

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