Our Saimaa Seal LIFE – New ways for the conservation of the Saimaa ringed seal – Layman´s report – Project activities and results 2020–2025

The Our Saimaa Seal LIFE -project achieved significant results in protecting the Saimaa ringed seal. The project aimed to reduce the impact of key threats to the species in a changing climate and to test the effectiveness of conservation methods proven successful in Lake Saimaa for protecting the Baltic ringed seal subpopulation in the Archipelago Sea. Project activities were carried out in Finland, in Lake Saimaa and the Archipelago Sea. The project involved 12 partners. The total budget was €7.1 million, of which the EU contributed €5.3 million.

Authorities, nature conservation organizations, researchers, and hundreds of volunteers have worked together to promote seal conservation through various means. We have been collaborating systematically for a long time, and in recent years the seal population has continued to grow steadily. However, the species still faces threats from deaths in fishing gear as well as habitat degradation and loss caused by shoreline construction and climate change. New conservation methods are needed, and this project has sought them through joint efforts.