Research into the Saimaa ringed seal has been ongoing at the University of Joensuu and the University of Eastern Finland since the late 1970s. This line of research started with population census and the development of conservation measures. The size of the Saimaa ringed seal population has now taken a turn for the better, and the species has even returned to one of its old habitats on Lake Puruvesi.
“At the turn of the 1970s and 1980s, the Saimaa ringed seal was almost an unknown species, and the population was very small. It was then realised that our nature is home to this species, too,” Researcher Marja Niemi says.
“Research into the Saimaa ringed seal began at the University of Joensuu under the lead of Professor Heikki Hyvärinen in collaboration with WWF Finland. Now this research group is led by Docent Mervi Kunnasranta at the University of Eastern Finland.”
Niemi wrote her PhD thesis on the Saimaa ringed seal, and already her Master’s level studies in applied zoology sparked an interest in mammals and aquatic animals in particular. She was introduced to marine biology while on a student exchange in Scotland, and that’s when research into the Saimaa ringed seal started to attract her.
“I’ve been studying the Saimaa ringed seal for 14 years already, and yet I’m still amazed by the uniqueness of this species inhabiting the labyrinth of our lakes. It has been absolutely wonderful to witness how this research has moved forward,” Niemi says happily.
Chubby pups survive
The focus of research addressing the Saimaa ringed seal has shifted with time. The 1990s saw the launch of telemetry research, which provided new insight into seal behaviour. The technological advances of the 2000s, on the other hand, made it possible to collect data on pups for the first time, leading to justified decisions to enlarge the gillnet fishing restrictions in their habitats. GPS-based research methods, in turn, were applied to larger seals.
Nowadays, basic research into the Saimaa ringed seal struggles with funding.
“Over the years, however, WWF and Raija and Ossi Tuuliainen Foundation have significantly supported our research, and they continue to do so even today. Our research group approaches the Saimaa ringed seal from a multitude of perspectives, including their population structure, behaviour and genetics,” Niemi explains.
“We are also involved in various working groups as well as in the university’s large-scale project on aquatic environments. What is wonderful about this work is that everyone does everything, including field work.”
The work of a Saimaa ringed seal researcher changes with the seasons, and weather in particular plays an important role.
“In January, we wait to get enough snow – or, nowadays, ice. In the winter, the amount of daylight dictates the length of a day out in the field,” Niemi notes.
“In the spring, we have to wait for the ice cover to melt before we can get our research vessel in the water.”
Nearly all Saimaa ringed seals make a lair: some use it for resting, others for giving birth. Lairs also provide shelter from cold and predators. Currently, researchers are developing artificial lairs for winters with poor snow conditions, and these lairs, too, have been well received by seals.
“The winter lair is essential for pup survival. Snow provides good isolation and shelter, allowing the mother to suckle the pup in peace. A chubby pup has the best chance of survival.”
Saimaa ringed seals are also sought to be photographed throughout Lake Saimaa, and this work out in the field takes place in late spring and early summer.
“By the end of the summer, we will have lots of data to analyse. Nowadays also private individuals provide us with photos of Saimaa ringed seals, and these photos can be viewed in WWF’s Seal Gallery. The size of the seal population can be assessed using photography-based identification of individual seals (Photo-ID). Another goal is to use this method to study social interaction between seals and to monitor their health.”
Collaboration with Russia
Niemi currently coordinates CoExist – Towards Sustainable Coexistence of Seals and Humans, a collaborative project focusing on the sustainable coexistence of freshwater seals and humans in Finland and Russia, implemented under the South-East Finland – Russia CBC 2014-2020 programme. The three-year project seeks to enhance Finnish-Russian research collaboration and raise awareness of seal-human coexistence.
Seals living in Lake Ladoga, Russia, face the same challenges as seals living in Lake Saimaa, Finland, including by-catch mortality and increasingly warm winters. The combined effect could result in the extinction of the species.
“The size of the Ladoga ringed seal population is around 5,000 individuals, but we have very little knowledge of this population and of the significance of the threats it is facing.” The Photo-ID method is now being implemented on Lake Ladoga, too. Concluded at the turn of the year, one of the goals of the Saimaa Seal LIFE Project, a five-year project coordinated by Metsähallitus, was to develop fishing gear that is safe for seals. International collaboration also makes it possible to share knowledge with multiple stakeholders,” Niemi says.
“Next year, we will organise a joint event aimed at people fishing on Lake Saimaa and Lake Ladoga. The goal is to enhance knowledge exchange. Plenty of work has been done on Lake Saimaa to reduce by-catch mortality, and we will be presenting these solutions in the event. Currently, by-catch mortality rates are being studied in Russia in collaboration with local fishers.”
“It is absolutely crucial to raise awareness of the Saimaa and Ladoga ringed seals. We all can do our part by, for example, avoiding activities that could be detrimental to seals, such as disturbing them during the breeding season. However, this calls for awareness. Increased awareness can also help to understand the foundations of conservation measures,” Niemi concludes.
CoExist project: www.uef.fi/coexist
Saimaa ringed seal research homepage: www.uef.fi/norppa
Saimaa Seal LIFE project: http://www.metsa.fi/saimaannorppalife
WWF Finland: https://wwf.fi/
Raija and Ossi Tuuliainen Foundation: https://www.tuuliaisensaatio.fi/