Fisheries industry

The fisheries industry value chain includes entrepreneurs and businesses operating in commercial fishing, aquaculture, fish processing and fish trade. In 2013, the production of the value chain amounted to approximately €900 million. The vision of the Finnish fish promotion Programme is that in 2035, Finns will eat fish in accordance with nutrition recommendations and the consumption of domestic fish has doubled. The value of exports of fish products has multiplied. Fish consumption and fishing business activities have significant and well-known positive impacts on the Finnish economy, the environment and public health.

Links to further information on the value chain:

Finnish Fishermen’s Association (SAKL) (website in Finnish and Swedish)

Finnish Inland Fishermen’s Association (SSAK) (website in Finnish)

Federation of Finnish Fisheries Associations (KKL)

Finnish Fish Farmers’ Association (SKL) (website in Finnish)

The Finnish Fish Merchant Association (SKKL) (website in Finnish)

Finnish Food and Drink Industries’ Federation / Fish Processing Industries’ Association (ETL)

Pro Fish Association

Support for the fisheries industry

Enterprises, organisations and other operators may apply for support for development and investment projects in accordance with the objectives of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund Programme for Finland 2021–2027. 

Finland has an insurance support system for marine fishing. More information on the system is available from the Southwest Finland Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment and regional fisheries insurance associations.

Regulation of fishing

The Finnish Fishing Act and the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) aim to ensure the sustainability of fishery. The CFP includes measures to regulate commercial fishing at sea. At the EU level, fishing is regulated by allocating fishing opportunities and adopting provisions on other fishing regulation measures, such as regional and temporal fishing restrictions and provisions on fishing gear. At the national level, Finland has complemented the EU provisions on fisheries, for example, by regulating the commercial fishing of Baltic herring and Baltic sprat and salmon fishing.

Control of commercial fisheries and quota monitoring

EU Member States have the obligation to ensure that the provisions of the Common Fisheries Policy are implemented and compliance is efficiently monitored. The objectives of the provisions include the conservation of marine biodiversity and the sustainable exploitation of fish stocks. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry steers, finances and coordinates the control of commercial fisheries and prepares the related national legislation.

Commercial fishing at sea is controlled by the Southwest Finland Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre), the Provincial Government of Åland and the Finnish Border Guard. The ELY Centre and the Provincial Government of Åland also control landings and the first-hand trade of fish. The Finnish Border Guard operates the Fisheries Monitoring Centre. Control measures and inspections concern fishing vessels and their fishing activities at sea, the landings of catches and the activities of first-hand buyers of fish. The traceability of fishery and aquaculture products and consumer information concerning the products are controlled by the Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira and municipal food authorities.

Sub-committee on fisheries (EU17)

The key forum for forming a coordinated Finnish position on fisheries issues under consideration in EU institutions is the EU affairs sub-committee on fisheries. The sub-committee is also known as the EU17 sub-committee and it meets to prepare positions for e.g. incoming Agriculture and Fisheries Council meetings. The sub-committee includes both public servants and representatives of different stakeholders.
 

Related links:

Finland’s quota situation

Contact information of control authorities

IUU fishing