Fortum-adopted Saimaa ringed seal part of WWF-awarded project

Research to provide new information about highly endangered Saimaa ringed seals

Fortum Corporation is supporting Saimaa ringed seal research being conducted this winter by the University of Joensuu, Finland. The research uses radio transmitters based on GPS and GSM technology to collect information about the behaviour and movement of the species. Fortum has decided to continue its support also in winter 2008-2009. In December 2007, WWF granted the research project a Panda Award worth EUR 20,000.

The globally unique research method helps researchers monitor the movements of Saimaa ringed seals much more efficiently than previous methods and with more precision and less disturbance to the animals. The data is transmitted as real-time text messages from a GPS device glued to the fur on the ringed seal’s back directly to the researcher’s computer. The transmitter has also endured the seal’s movement under the ice. It will detach during the spring moulting season at the latest.

”It is important to find out what factors we should focus on in the effort to protect Saimaa ringed seals. However, assessing the interference caused by people is difficult without more detailed data on the behaviour of the species. The new type of transmitter allows us to get up to 30 seal positionings per day, so we can monitor their movement around the clock. Additionally, the transmitter collects data on the dives and resting times of the seals as well as water temperatures”, notes researcher Marja Niemi from the Faculty of Biosciences at the University of Joensuu. ”

“The GPS equipment used in the research is quite expensive. The Panda Award, along with the support from Fortum and other project supporters, will help us acquire several devices this year”, says Niemi.

At the moment the new kind of transmitter has been attached to two seals. One of them is the seal adopted by Fortum and named Kesto-Juha. It has moved distances of up to 40 kilometres a day and has dived to depths of 46 meters.

“Kesto-Juha is a young and very active male. It is the first known individual Saimaa ringed seal to have migrated from one water system to another in the Lake Saimaa area. Without the new kind of transmitter, we wouldn’t have had nearly as much data about these migrations”, Marja Niemi notes.

Kesto-Juha’s name refers to Fortum’s Kesto electricity agreement in which customers receive eco-labelled electricity certified by the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation. Fortum has about 400,000 customers who have signed a Kesto agreement.

Fortum Corporation
Corporate Communications

Additional information:
University of Joensuu, Researcher Marja Niemi, tel. +358 (0)13 251 3586, gsm +358 (0)50 341 3654