Marine seals

If you reside permanently in Finland, you have the right to hunt in Finland’s public waters (Hunting Act Section 7). The grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and the Baltic ringed seal (Pusa hispida botnica) can be hunted from 16 April until the end of December in accordance with the decrees issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry within the limits of regional quotas, with hunting being interrupted once the quota has been filled up.

• Asetus hallin alueellisistä kiintiöistä (finlex.fi) (“Decree on the regional quotas set for the grey seal”)
• Asetus itämerennorpan alueellisistä kiintiöistä (finlex.fi) (“Decree on the regional quotas set for the Baltic ringed seal”)

The filling of the quota is monitored on the basis of catch reports. The catch of a grey seal or Baltic ringed seal must be reported to the Finnish Wildlife Agency no later than on the third working day. Read more about hunting for the grey seal and the Baltic ringed seal based on quotas (riista.fi).

Foreigner’s hunting permit for seals

Foreigner’s hunting permits for seals are always purchased for a week. The easiest way to obtain a permit is directly from the Eräluvat services by selecting the desired start time and paying for the permit immediately using one of the many payment methods available. Alternatively, you can obtain a permit by phone from the Eräluvat service number +358 20 69 2424 (weekdays 9–15). A foreigner's weekly permit costs EUR 35. The weekly permit is valid for seven days, with the hunter being able to decide the starting time.

A foreigner may participate in hunting for grey and Baltic ringed seals in Finland’s public waters under certain conditions: the foreign hunter must pay the Finnish game management fee and be accompanied by a Finnish hunter. In addition, the hunter must obtain a seal hunting permit from Metsähallitus.

The foreigner’s seal hunting permit enables and facilitates cooperation between Finns and Swedes, particularly in seal hunting. The seal hunting season begins on 16 April and ends on 31 December.

Prior to purchasing a hunting permit, you should read the Metsähallitus’s terms of purchase and cancellation for permit.