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Discover the thriving recreational fishing scene in Finland, where 1.8 million people enjoy this nature activity. From traditional gillnets to modern rods and lines, explore the diverse methods used in Finland's fishing waters.
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Recreationalfishing in Finland Hannu Lehtonen University of Helsinki
Recreational fishing is one of the most important nature activities for Finns. In 2008 about 34 per cent of the population, i.e. 1.8 million people fished at least once. Earlier fishing was mainly based on the household needs (subsistence fishing) but today it is for the most part a recreation. Fishing with various kinds of rods and lines has expanded it’s breadth but also traditional gillnets and traps are still widely used. Wiretrapwidelyused in Finland
A particular characteristic of the Finnish fisheries is created by the climatic conditions. Fishing waters are covered by ice for part of the year ice fishing is common during the winter season while the main fishing period is during the open water season. • There are around 70 permanent fish species in Finland, of which approximately 20 are actively fished. • Of the freshwater catch 90% in weight is taken by recreational fishers. In the Baltic Sea the proportion of recreational catch is approximately half when Baltic herring is not included.
Most Finnish fishing waters are privately owned and the fishing rights belong to water owner with certain exceptions. • Water areas are often fragmented and split between many parties, including the non-local owners of summerhouses. • Regardless of their ownership, all privately owned waters are divided into 228 fisheries regions which have rather wide mandate to regulate fishing in their area • Typical management measures implemented by Fisheries Regions include e.g. minimum mesh and landing sizes and areal and temporal closures.
A fisheries management fee must be paid prior to fishing by everyone between 18 and 64 years of age who wishes to participate in fishing activities other than angling or jigging (they are public rights). • The fee is a tax-like charge payable to the state and includes water owners fishing in their own area, but excludes fishing in the autonomous province of Åland (SW-Finnish archipelago), which has its own regulations. Fishing in Åland is subject to the permission of the holder of the fishing rights. Allfishingmethods, includingangling andjiggingaresubjectto the sameregulations and restrictions. Jigging of Arcticcharr in Lapland
Recreationalfishers as proportion of totalFinnishpopulationbyagegroup and sex in 2008 (FinnishGame and FisheriesResearch Institute)
The proportion of fishermenusingdifferentgeartypes in 2008 (FinnishGame and FisheriesResearch Institute)
Fishing days (1000) of recreational fishermen by gear types in 1988-2008 (Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute)
Number of people using gill nets and hook and line by age group in 2008 (Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute)
Catch of recreational fishermen (1000 kg) by fish species in 2008 (Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute)
57% of the total recreational fish catch was taken in 2008 with gillnets and (wire) traps. 41% was caught with rod and line. The average catch per fishing household was 33 kg. Of the households participated in fishing 11% did not get fish at all.
Trends in Finnishrecreationalfishing • Subsistencefishing is beingreplacedwithrecreationalrod and linefishing • The use of gillnets is decreasing • Mobility of fishermen is increasing • Fishermenspecialize in certainfishingmethods, (e.g. flyfishing) or in certainfishspecies • The use of differentkinds of servicesassociatedwithfishing is increasing Longlinefishing in Balticarchipelago
