Fishing

Common fishing rights and the fisheries management fee

Angling with a hook and line, ice-fishing and herring fishing with a rig are common fishing rights, free of charge. For all other types of fishing, you need to pay the fisheries management fee. However, people under 18 years old and those aged 70 or older are exempt from the fisheries management fee.

The fisheries management fee entitles you to lure fishing using one rod, reel and lure in the whole of Finland, except Åland islands or areas where fishing is prohibited. You can check prohibited areas at the website Kalastusrajoitus.fi.

You can purchase the fisheries management fee on the website eraluvat.fi, in the Eräluvat app, or by calling Metsähallitus’ toll-free service number 020 69 2424, weekdays from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Check fishing permit table here.

Local fishing permits

For other fishing methods than lure fishing (eg. nets and traps) and for fishing with more than one rod fishers need to pay the fishing management fee as well as have permission by the water owner.
The cities of Helsinki and Espoo, as well as Metsähallitus, sell local permits to the waters owned by them. Information about fishing permits for Espoo’s and Helsinki’s water areas can be found on their respective city websites: www.hel.fi and www.espoo.fi. Information about Metsähallitus’ fishing permits is available at www.eraluvat.fi.

Keep your fishing permits with you!

Keep the receipts for your fishing licenses with you when fishing, as well as your ID. You have to show them to the fishing supervisor upon request.

Fishing supervision

Fishing is supervised by fishing supervisors and various authorities, including the Police, the Finnish Border Guard, Metsähallitus, the ELY Centre, and Customs.

Helsinki-Espoo fisheries region has 10 fishing supervisors. If you have questions regarding fishing you can contact the supervisors via e-mail kalastuksenvalvonta.hki.espoo(at)gmail.com.

Remember to keep your permits with you, as well as your ID, when fishing and show them to the authority or fishing supervisor upon request.

For minor offenses, the fishing supervisor can issue a warning. In the case of more significant offenses, the matter is referred to the police, who may issue fines or forward the case to the prosecutor. For an unpaid fisheries management fee, the penalty is always a fixed petty fine (100 euros).

Report your catches!

As of January 1, 2025, it is mandatory for recreational fishers to report their catch if it is a salmon, lake salmon, trout, eel, char (in Kuolimo, Saimaa, Vuoksen), grayling or pink salmon. The catch must be reported within 14 days, even if the fish has been released back into the water. The report can be submitted via the Omakala app, by e-mail or by phone.

More detailed information can be found here.

Mark your fishing gear

Fixed and standing fishing gear (gill nets, traps, pots, and long-lines) shall be equipped with clear signs so that the gear can be easily detected above water. The fishing gear shall also display the name and contact information of the person who placed the gear and carry a mark indicating the fishing right if the fishing right holder so demands.