Key legislation

The key objective of the Finnish Fishing Act is to regulate fishing rights and methods, the management of fish stocks and the fisheries administration in terms of the use and management of fish resources. The Fishing Act reform has addressed the changes that have taken place in fishing, in Finnish and EU legislation and in society at large.

The Fishing Decree includes more detailed provisions on, for example, fishing gear and the practice of fishing, fishing districts, the State’s fishing waters and fisheries control. 

The majority of provisions governing commercial fisheries, particularly in sea areas, are laid down at the EU level. The regulation of commercial fishing at sea is an exclusive EU competence, and national provisions can only be issued if EU legislation empowers Member States to do so.