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Online fishing restriction enters into force in Saimaa

Online fishing restriction enters into force in Saimaa

Saimaa ringed ring Kuutti peeks out of the water.
There will be a total ban on gillnetting in the Saimaa ringed seal areas from 15 April. Archive photo.

The restriction on gillnetting in the Saimaa ringed seal areas enters into force today. The restriction protects the critically endangered Saimaa ringed seal.

There will be a total ban on gillnetting from 15 April until the end of June. For gillnets with a mesh size of less than 22 mm, the ban will last until 20 June.

According to the environmental organisation WWF, fish traps are the biggest threat to the Saimaa ringed seal. According to the organisation, five Saimaa ringed seals were killed by fishing nets and one by other fish traps last year. Particularly vulnerable to the nets are the pups, which wean from their mothers in April and May and are unable to avoid the nets.

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