When this year’s seal hunt begins on Monday, 1,350 gray seals, 200 harbor seals, and 200 ringed seals may be hunted. That is more than last year, and the increased quota has outraged the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, which believes the seal population is at risk in the long term.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has now decided on this year's hunt for grey seals, harbour seals and ringed seals. Licensed hunting of grey seals will increase by 350 animals this year compared to last year, with a total of 1,350 grey seals allowed to be shot until the beginning of next year. The protective hunt for harbour seals and harbour porpoises remains at the same level as last year, with 200 ringed seals and 200 harbour porpoises.
