Baltic grey seals
Baltic grey seals are the largest mammals in the Baltic Sea, living here for ten thousands of years. Almost extinct in twentieth century, their populations are recovering rapidly. For many years grey seals have been extremely rarely visitors on Lithuanian coast and are strictly protected by national laws. However, in the past several years more and more individuals of this fascinating species can be observed by Lithuanian coastline.
Increasing numbers of grey seals along Lithuanian coast brings not only appreciation by scientists, conservationists and society, but also new problems to small-scale fisheries: destroyed fishing nets, damaged and sometimes totally lost fish hauls bring an economic disadvantage to fishermen. Even though the conflict between grey seals and Lithuanian small-scale fisheries is considered to be intense and frequently highlighted by media, no official proof has yet been given. Fishermen often declare that their complaints are ignored by national institutions. Lack of communication between national bodies and fisheries provokes a hostile fishermen's attitude towards grey seals and threatens the local grey seal community.
On the 1st of June (2013) Lithuanian Fund for Nature (LFN) launched a new project “Conflict between grey seals and fishermen in Lithuania – problem evaluation, understanding and possibilities for cooperation”, funded by Nordic Council of Ministers. With cooperation of local authorities of fisheries and local small-scale fishermen, LFN seeks to assess a damage done to local small-scale fisheries, enhance of the mutual cooperation and trust between localfishermen and LFN and raise of awareness of national society about the greyseal vs. fishermen conflict on Lithuanian coast. Next year LFN is planning a seminar for local small-scale fishermen, representatives from Lithuanian Ministries of Agriculture and Environment, Fisheries associations, Lithuanian Sea Museum, scientists, experts and other stakeholders involved in utilization of coastal areas. During the seminar experts from Lithuania, Estonia and Finland will discuss grey seal status in the Baltic sea, future grey seal population perspectives according to fishing rates and climate change, new grey seal-safe fishing methods and other mitigation devices that could help to reduce the economic disadvantage to our local small-scale fishermen.