File Photo – Lehtikuva.
A ringed seal pup died entangled in a fishing net in the southern part of Lake Saimaa. The male pup was the first ringed seal to die in a fishing net. The death was reported by the fisherman who owned the net.
The vendace fishing net in which the ringed seal died was legal. In general, fishing nets are forbidden from the ringed seal’s area from April to the end of June, but vendace nets are exempted.
According to the Metsähallitus, the authority administering forests, the death of a ringed seal caused by a vendace net is rare.
The Metsähallitus information shows that about 190 ringed seals have died due to fishing gear, but only three of the deaths were caused by vendace nets.
The ringed seal’s carcass is now in custody of the Metsähallitus, where it will be submitted for further examination.
