Fishery restrictions in public waters at sea

The following rules apply in state-owned public waters at sea extending up to the Finnish exclusive economic zone and belonging to the operating area of the Uusimaa and Southeast Finland Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre):

1) If a fisher catches a trout with an adipose fin, the trout must be released back in the water without delay.

2) As defined in section 19 of the Fishing Decree, all sea trout caught must meet the minimum size of at least 65 cm, measured from the tip of the jaw (mouth closed) to the tip of the tail fin.

3) If bottom-set gillnets and nets anchored at or near the surface are intended for catching sea trout, the minimum permitted length of mesh side must be 80 mm.

4) Nets which are intended for catching fish species other than sea trout and in which the length of mesh side is less than 80 mm must be woven from a single-fibre or single-strand twine with a maximum twine thickness of 0.20 mm.

The decisions issued by the Uusimaa and Southeast Finland ELY Centres entered into force on 1 January 2013 and will apply until the end of 2022.

The decisions include a three-year transitional period for sea trout nets in which the length of mesh side exceeds 65 mm and for professional fishermen’s nets in which the length of mesh side is less than 80 mm and which have been woven from thick twine. If the natural state of fish populations changes, the above restrictions may be changed with decisions issued by ELY Centres.