Nineteen dead seals found near Porvoo spark investigation

By admin On Jul 29, 2025

Nineteen dead seals were found in the archipelagos of Porvoo and Loviisa. Photo: Martti Kainulainen / Lehtikuva

Nineteen seals were discovered dead along the shores of Porvoo and Loviisa in southern Finland over the weekend, prompting concern and an ongoing investigation into the unexplained deaths.

Fifteen of the seals were found around the Pellinge archipelago near Porvoo, and four more were located in the Loviisa area. No signs of external injuries or visible trauma have been found on the animals.

“This is unusual. In my ten years of work I don’t recall anything like this,” said Petronella Jansson, municipal veterinarian for environmental health in Porvoo.

One of the seals has been sent to the Finnish Food Authority’s laboratory in Oulu for analysis. The results are expected within one to two weeks. Preliminary findings revealed no discolouration, wounds or other visible indicators that could suggest a cause of death.

According to Jansson, the other carcasses appear similar and show no signs of having been deliberately harmed. “Nothing currently suggests they were killed intentionally,” she said.

The seals were found washed up in various locations across the archipelago, and it is unclear how long they had been in the water before being discovered. “Likely not very long, as the bodies would have started to decompose quickly,” Jansson noted.

One of the main concerns is the possibility of a contagious disease outbreak. A virus such as avian influenza, which has previously been detected in seals in other parts of Europe, would be among the most serious scenarios.

However, there have been no known outbreaks of avian influenza or mass bird deaths in the Porvoo region this summer. “It’s also possible the cause is some kind of poisoning,” Jansson said.

Porvoo authorities have warned the public not to touch any dead seals with bare hands, as wild marine animals can carry infectious bacteria. Landowners are responsible for disposing of dead wild animals found on their property. Guidance is available on the Food Authority’s website.

According to Jansson, finding a few dead seals in the Porvoo archipelago each year is not uncommon, particularly during spring. But the scale of the recent discovery is unprecedented in the area.

Further testing beyond bird flu may take longer, depending on the complexity of the analysis. “We hope results will take weeks, not months,” Jansson said.

The findings from Oulu are expected to help determine whether the deaths were caused by illness, environmental toxins, or another factor. Until then, the cause remains unknown.

Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi