Hunting and fishing

A licence is usually required in Finland to hunt and fish.

Hunting is only permissible during hunting seasons. Hunting quotas are set for some game animals, such as elks. The aim of having hunting seasons and quotas is to regulate the population of animals that can be hunted. Hunting animals is not allowed during the period when they reproduce.

Recreational fishing generally requires a licence, except for ice fishing and angling. Some species of fish and crayfish are protected at certain periods. The spawning and breeding grounds and the migratory routes of important species of fish are protected for set periods to preserve fish stocks. Fishing is also restricted in areas where the Saimaa seal is found.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is responsible for drafting laws on fishing and hunting and for setting hunting permit quotas. All fishers must pay the annual fishing management fee to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. In return, they will receive a fishing licence. Hunters, in turn, must pay the game management fee to the Hunters´ Central Organization to obtain a hunting licence.

In addition to the appropriate licence, permission is required from the owner of the land where the fishing or hunting will take place. Metsähallitus sells the licences concerning fishing and hunting in state-owned territories.

Hunting

A person who has passed the hunting examination and has a hunting licence is allowed to hunt. Hunters must also pay the game management fee.

Local residents in the Province of Lapland and in some municipalities in the Province of Oulu can hunt freely in land owned by the state. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry decides on hunting licences and quotas every year.

All hunters of large game (bear, elk, deer or boar) must pass a shooting test.

• Game management
  Game and reindeer management in Finland is practised within the limits permitted by the sustainable use of natural resources.
  
  http://www.mmm.fi/en/index/frontpage/Fishing,_game_reindeer/hunting_game_management.html
  Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
• Hunting in Finland
  Finland as a hunting country, hunting seasons, licences and shooting tests.
  
  http://www.riista.fi/riistaen/
  Hunters' Central Organization
• Hunting trips
  Big and small game hunting.
  
  http://www.villipohjola.fi/page.asp?Section=84
  Metsähallitus
• Permits and licences for firearms
  Instructions for application for firearm permits and licences, firearm storage provisions and prices.
  
  http://www.poliisi.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/pages/3BBB04E1F6672AB8C2256C450037D7C5
  Finnish Police
• Game management districts
  Information about events, e.g. shooting test times and locations. Contact information for game management districts and hunting associations. Statistics on hunting licences and quotas.
  
  http://www.riistaweb.riista.fi/?lang=en
  Hunters' Central Organization, Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute

Fishing

Recreational fishing is allowed in inland waters, rivers and Finland’s sea areas. All fishers must pay the annual fishing management fee to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Fishing is restricted in some areas to preserve fish stocks. The restriction may concern a certain area or period of time, for example, during the spawning season. There may also be restrictions to protect other animals. The use of certain kinds of fishing tackle and fishing methods are prohibited in areas where the Saimaa seal is found, for instance.

The Åland Islands have their own fishing laws. Fishing rights belong to the owner of the water area and permission is required from the owner of the fishing rights for all types of fishing.

• Recreational fishing
  Permits, payments and restrictions.
  
  http://www.mmm.fi/en/index/frontpage/Fishing,_game_reindeer/Recreational_fishing.html
  Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
• Fishing trips
  Sport fishing and ice-fishing.
  
  http://www.villipohjola.fi/page.asp?Section=75
  Metsähallitus
• Fishing licences
  Information on fishing licence system, fees and payments.
  
  http://www.ahven.net/english/index.php
  Federation of Finnish Fisheries Associations
• Commercially exploited fish species
  Information on 31 fish, which are considered to have some trade value in Finland. Facts about their range, occurrence, nutrition, growth and reproduction. Fish Atlas.
  
  http://www.rktl.fi/english/fish/fish_atlas/
  Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute

Printer-friendly version

Send Suomi.fi link

X

• Send Suomi.fi link
• Send e-mail
• Help

 

Bookmark	Facebook	Digg	Delicious	MySpace	Google	Yahoo!
StumbleUpon	Technorati	Reddit	Ask	Live	Blinklist	Twitter

 

Your name:

Your e-mail : Check your email address!

Recipient e-mail: Check your email address!

Your message (voluntary): Your friend has sent you a link to the Suomi.fi portal: Hunting and fishing http://www.suomi.fi/suomifi/english/subjects/sports_and_outdoor_activities/hunting_and_fishing/

 

The “Send Suomi.fi link” functionality lets you add Suomi.fi pages to your bookmarks and send Suomi.fi pages by e-mail to the recipients of your choice. You can also share Suomi.fi content with your network in social networking services. Using these services is usually free of charge, but they require user registration.