Baltic Sea Seal & Cormorant TNC
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Baltic Sea
Seal & Cormorant TNC
1. Finding sustainable solutions to deal with the growing seal
and cormorant populations
2. Researchers report of seal-conflict and possible solutions
3. The environment in focus
HELCOM Workshop on Seal-Fisheries Interactions 27.6.2019
In co-operation with 14 FLAGs we map out real damage experienced by the fishermen, and look for functional solutions to the seal and cormorant problems in the Baltic Sea area. The solutions are to be ecologically, socially and economically sustainable.
Preliminary findings
The impact of seals and cormorants on the
Baltic Sea commercial fisheries
Esko Taanila and Anna Kääriäinen
Baltic Sea seal and cormorant TNC-project
Pekka Salmi, Kristina Svels and Juhani Mellanoura
Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
BALTFISH Symposium 20th March 2019
The preliminary findings indicated in this presentation should not be cited without
permission from LukeMaterial and
methods
Structured face-to-face
interviews with
commercial fishermen in 6
countries
Interviews were
conducted in 15 study
areas by 17 interviewers
15 page questionnaire
Final sample:
219 fishermen
BALTFISH Symposium 20th March 2019
The preliminary findings indicated in this presentation should not be cited without permission from LukeGross earnings
Less than 10 000 € 14
10 000 - 19 999 € 29
20 000 - 39 999 € 21
At least 40 000 € 23
No answer 3
Total 90
FINLAND Average 36 747 €
Less than 10 000 € 18
10 000 - 19 999 € 11
20 000 - 39 999 € 21
At least 40 000 € 14
No answer 20
Total 84
SWEDEN Average 36 544 €
BALTFISH Symposium 20th March 2019
The preliminary findings indicated in this presentation should not be cited without
permission from LukeShare of fishing income of the total personal
income
0 - 29 % 14
30 - 79 % 33
80 - 100 % 42
Not known 1
Total 90
FINLAND Average 66%
0 - 29 % 23
30 - 79 % 27
80 - 100 % 23
Not known 11
Total 84
SWEDEN Average 53%
BALTFISH Symposium 20th March 2019
The preliminary findings indicated in this presentation should not be cited without
permission from LukeThe gravity of seal
and cormorant
induced impacts to
interviewee’s fishing
livelihood in study
areas
Indexes show how
serious the impacts
were assessed by the
fishers
The preliminary findings indicated in this presentation should not be cited without
permission fromLukeThe gravity of seal induced impacts to the interviewee’s
fishing livelihood in Finland divided in six impact
categories, % (n=89)
BALTFISH Symposium 20th March 2019
The preliminary findings indicated in this presentation should not be cited without
permission from LukeThe average seal
and cormorant
induced losses
estimated by the
fishermen
FINLAND
Seal 19 930 €
(n= 77)
Cormorant 5 993 €
(n= 52)
SWEDEN
Seal 22 064 €
(n=67)
Cormorant 5 667 €
(n=42)
The preliminary findings indicated in this presentation should not be cited without
permission from LukeResearchers report of the
seal problem and solutions
The impact of growing seal population
1. Direct impact on fisheries including catch losses and
damaged fishing gear due to seal depredation.
2. Fish consumption of seals that affects the fish
populations
3. Spreading parasites harmful to man and fish1. The impact on fisheries Catch losses and damaged fishing gear due to seal depredation. Damage in active fishery about 20.000 € /year/fisherman: BSSC-project Cod fishery: average 5 fish lost for each fish found damaged
2. Fish consumption of seal
Seals consume large quantities fish, it should to be
carefully considered in ecosystem analyses and
stock assessment models.
Especially in costal fishery
100 milj kg/year
2% salmon = 2 milj kg salmon every year (Ecoseal)
35% high value fish (salmon, perch, pike perch,
whitefish) in Gulf of Finland (Ecoseal)3. Spreading parasites harmful
to man and the fish
The seal worm Psudoterranova decipiens
The liver worm Contracaecum osculatum.Conclusions All these three aspects of the conflict are alarming. Correlation between the size of the seal population and the level of the conflict. The seal fisheries conflict is one of the small-scale fisheries main concerns and does not only affect the subjected fisheries, but also the local coastal communities, the ability to meet public access to local fish and even the ecosystem.
Mitigation measures There is a need of a dramatic change in Baltic Sea seal management The HELCOM seal recommendation should take to account both socioeconomic and ecological aspects in seal management as proposed in The Habitats Directive. Seal-safe fishing gear or other methods such as scaring devices to decrease the catch loss and damage to fishing gear are important but not sufficient measures when considering the magnitude of the problem
In practice Change in EU-ban of trade of seal products There is an urgent need to start managing seal population with hunting to reduce the population increase
Enviroment in focus Seals eat about 100 milj kg fish yearly ( 5-7 kg/day) 2% salmon 35% high value fish (Gulf of Finland) Baltic Sea coastal fishery 52 milj kg ( half of seals consumption) (STECF 2016) The value of local catched fish Local or imported ( now 4 of 5 fish are imported) Fresh, near produced and healthy food, Socioeconomc effects on the coastal livelihood Fishing reduces significant ammounts of phosphorus and nitrogen from the eutrophic Baltic Sea Balance between small scale fishery – seal stock -environment
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