Why Does Finland Need Seal Reserves
The number of seals in the Baltic Sea dropped drastically during the 20th century. At the lowest the population numbered only a few thousand individuals. The drop was caused, up until the 1960s, by over hunting and after this environmental toxins had an adverse effect on seals breeding. At the end of the 20th century the seal population started to recover slowly and now there are 10,000 individuals in the Baltic Sea.
Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus) flock to rocky islets on the edge of the open sea each year when the ice cover melts. The islets are important resting places for seals when they shed their fur in May-June, after the windy season in summer and also, if weather conditions permit, in autumn. As seals are social animals they sometimes lay on the islets in dense groups. During winters when there is no ice or very little ice covering the sea, Finland’s southwest islets are also calving areas. Seals move along the coast from one islet to another over large areas, sometimes even travelling a hundred kilometres a day. Islets surrounded by vast waters are the central parts of seal reserves. These reserves ensure that seals can rest on the islets without being disturbed.
The Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus) is classified as near threatened. EU legislation also postulates that reserves for the Grey Seal be established.