The ban on gillnetting and other fishing restrictions covering almost the whole of Lake Saimaa have helped the seal population to grow.
The spring-born sprat of the Saimaa ringed seal will again be protected by a ban on gillnetting in most of Saimaa from 15 April to 30 June.Preventing gillnetting will prevent the sprat from becoming entangled in fishing nets and drowning.
The area where netting is prohibited is based on the location of the Saimaa ringed seal nests. A five-kilometre protection zone has been established around each nest of chicks detected. These areas are linked together, so that the restricted area covers most of the Saimaa.
According to the North Savo Environment Centre, the ban on gillnetting, together with year-round fishing restrictions, has ensured an increase in the Saimaa ringed seal population in recent years. The expansion of the restricted area has also contributed to the growth, with the stock increasing by more than 5% annually.
EUR 615 000 in compensation to the Saimaa sub-regions
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry pays Saimaa cooperatives every year compensation due to fishing restrictions. 615,000 euros have been set aside for compensation each year.
With contractual compensations, cooperatives receive money for monitoring restrictions and informing about them. In addition, the funds are used to compensate for the decrease in fishing license income.