WWF Finland — the Finnish branch of the international nature conservation group — has called on the government to cut the proposed hunting quota for Baltic ringed seals by half.
Seal hunting is permitted in Finland for both grey seals and Baltic ringed seals, with quotas set by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The season usually runs from April until December.
The ministry has proposed setting the quota for subsequent years for the hunting of Baltic ringed seals at 425 individuals.
"The quota proposed by the ministry is far too high considering the size of the seal population and the rapidly growing threat posed to the seal by climate change," WWF Programme Director Petteri Tolvanen wrote in a press release.
He added that the quota also conflicts with the "ministry’s own objective of expanding the Baltic seal population to new areas."
The ministry's proposed quota — an increase on the usual amount of 370 per year — is currently undergoing a public consultation round.
The Baltic ringed seal is considered to be an endangered species as it is heavily dependent on snow and ice, meaning that global warming is a serious threat to its survival.
A popular live stream featuring the seals, called Norppalive and run by WWF Finland, has garnered over 11 million views over the last nine years.
