Lithuania is taking strong steps toward saving Baltic seals as melting sea ice and pollution threaten their survival.
As climate change melts the once-solid ice sheets of the Baltic Sea, Lithuania is ramping up its efforts to protect its vulnerable population of grey seals. These animals, once near extinction, now face a new challenge: a shrinking icy habitat that’s critical for raising their pups.
The grey seal population has made a slow recovery thanks to bans on commercial cod fishing and toxic pesticide use. But climate change is making survival harder. Warmer winters mean the Baltic Sea rarely freezes over anymore, which forces seals to give birth on land, where it’s much less safe.
In the past, female grey seals gave birth on sea ice, far from predators and people. Today, with fewer ice sheets forming each winter, seal mothers are packed together on land. According to Vaida Surviliene, a scientist at Vilnius University, this leads to confusion. Mothers often can’t tell which pup is theirs and may abandon them.
The result? Wild pup survival rates are shockingly low, sometimes just 5%.
Arunas Grusas, a biologist at the Baltic Sea Animal Rehabilitation Centre in Klaipėda, explained that birthing on land exposes seals to more threats. These include people, wild animals, aggressive male seals, and the spread of disease.
Grusas has been working with seals since 1987, when he took in a sick pup at the Klaipėda Sea Museum. Back then, the seal population was in crisis. From around 100,000 seals before World War II, numbers had plunged to only 4,000–5,000 by the late 1980s.
The team cared for the rescued pups using makeshift baths. The seals were fed by hand and taught how to swim. Many were so weak that the sea would spit them back onto shore. Over time, these early efforts helped stabilize the population.
While their numbers have improved, Baltic seals now face modern dangers. One major issue is fishing nets. Desperate for food, many seals get tangled in near-shore nets and drown. Grusas and other scientists say this is why more adult seals have been found dead on Lithuanian beaches in recent years.
To combat this, the rehabilitation center releases healed seals back into the sea with GPS trackers. These trackers show that many seals travel north to Sweden’s Gotland island, where fish are more abundant. Some seals are hesitant at first and even try to return to the boat. But with time, they adjust and return to the wild.
The Baltic Sea’s ice coverage has been falling fast since the 1980s. The lowest recorded ice coverage occurred in the winter of 2019–2020. This trend is directly tied to climate change and has severe effects on the grey seal population. Less ice means fewer safe spots to give birth, and lower chances of pup survival.
Saving Baltic seals is not just about protecting a single species. Seals are a key part of the marine ecosystem. They help keep fish populations balanced and serve as an early warning system for ocean health. When seals struggle, it’s a sign that something bigger is wrong in the sea.
For people living near the Baltic coast, this also affects fishing and tourism. Dead seals on beaches are both an environmental issue and a public concern.
In addition to bans on toxic pesticides and commercial cod fishing, Lithuania enforces protections under the European Union’s Habitats Directive. This law requires member states to safeguard habitats of important species, including grey seals.
The directive prohibits deliberate killing, capturing, or disturbing seals, especially during breeding seasons. Lithuanian authorities also conduct regular monitoring and coordinate with conservation groups to ensure these legal protections are followed.
People can also play a part in saving Baltic seals. Scientists urge beachgoers to avoid disturbing seals they see resting ashore, especially during the breeding season. Reporting sightings of injured or stranded seals to local wildlife centers helps ensure a quick rescue. Reducing plastic use, properly disposing of trash, and supporting sustainable seafood choices all contribute to a healthier marine environment for seals.
Lithuania is taking a proactive approach. It has banned harmful pesticides and restricted cod fishing to reduce competition for food. The country also built a new rehabilitation center in 2022 to care for injured and orphaned seals.
With these efforts, Lithuania hopes to continue saving Baltic seals even as climate change threatens their way of life.
