ECOSEAL
Baltic seals - balancing between sustainable ecosystem management and fisheries
- Thematic cluster:
- SMEs
- Programme:
- Archipelago and Islands Sub-programme
- Priority:
- 2. Economically competitive and innovative region
- Direction of support:
- Developing archipelago and islans specific economic activities - tradtional small scale farming, fishing, handicrafts, maritime heritage etc
- Duration:
- Jan 2012 - Dec 2013 (2 years, 0 months)
- Total funding:
- 1 114 780 €
- ERDF funding:
- 845 788 €
- EUSBSR Priority area
- Preserving natural zones and biodiversity, including fisheries
- Website:
- http://www.ecosealproject.eu
Development idea
Nowadays, seals – the top predators in the Baltic Sea – are recovering after population declines, but face a changed ecosystem both in terms of human-induced mortality (hunting, by-catch in fishing gear) and changes in available food resources. On the other hand, the increasing seal stocks are causing notable damage to small-scale coastal fisheries, especially in the northern Baltic. The lack of updated information on various aspects of the interactions between seals and fish stocks and the coastal fisheries is aggravating the seal/fishery coexistence as well as the accomplishment of favourable conservation status.
Aim of the project
The ECOSEAL project brought together experts on seal ecology, fish stock management, and mathematical modelling in addition to various stakeholders from Finland, Sweden and Estonia in order to produce and utilise new, extensive information and practical tools to be introduced and facilitate favourable seal management in the Baltic countries.
Main project activities
The project aimed to provide practical tools for the conservation and management of Baltic seals. The project also disseminated up-to-date information on various aspects of seal-fishery interactions (by-catch, impact of seals on fish and fisheries) to fishermen and other stakeholders, and also proposed ways to mitigate any conflict. Additionally, the project assessed the opportunities for local people in the coastal archipelago region to start utilising seals as an asset in terms of nature tourism.
Partners
Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute
- Country:
- Finland
- Region:
- Uusimaa
- ERDF funding:
- 418 218 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 139 406 €
University of Helsinki
- Country:
- Finland
- Region:
- Uusimaa
- ERDF funding:
- 158 367 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 52 789 €
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Resources
- Country:
- Sweden
- Region:
- ERDF funding:
- 186 742 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 62 248 €
Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu
- Country:
- Estonia
- Region:
- Lõuna – Eesti
- ERDF funding:
- 82 461 €
- Amount of eligible national funding:
- 14 552 €
Results
Reports and analysis about population of Baltic grey seals
Materials about the impact of grey seals on fishery as well as their ecological role and potential to develop the sea tourism.
The reports include various themes on grey seals population and their potential in tourism. Fishermen engaged in seal tourism, as well as tourism entrepreneurs, hunters and representatives of various organisations have been interviewed.
K.Kauhala, Age, sex and body condition of Baltic grey seals: are the problem seals a random sample of the population? ENG
M.Vetemaa, A.Herrero, T.Aho, Interviews with fishermen: summary ENG
J.Vanhatalo, I.Helle, L.Ronkainen, Risk assessment and management analysis of Baltic grey seal populations ENG
The ecological role of Baltic grey seals: dietary patterns and prey consumption ENG
Hylje - vahinkoeläin vai luontoelämys? FIN
