Finland Times

The parliament on Friday approved a fishing bill envisaged to provide with better tools for protection of weakened and threatened fish stocks, said an official government statement.

The new law will support natural reproduction instead of stockings. “I am really happy that the reform process which began in 2008 is now ready. Today the winners are the Finnish fish and fishermen,” exclaimed Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Petteri Orpo.

Under the law a new fishery information base will be created. It will be regulated by the government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry as well as the regional administrative centres (ELY Centres).

“The new law answers today’s requirements better,” said Eija Kirjavainen, the person who led the reform efforts, adding that the next step is to finalise the regulation on fishing so that the objectives of the law are achieved.

One objective of the law includes providing for removal of adipose fin in all the one-year or over-a-year-old stocked salmons, lake salmons and sea trout.

The new law also provides for a simplified fishing licensing system. Fisheries management and fishing will be combined into a single fishing fee, payable by every fisherman between the ages of 18 and 64 engaged in fishing other than angling and ice fishing.

The fee has been set at 39 euros a year, 12 euros a week and 5 euros a day with a provision which gives the right to fish with a single bait throughout the country.

The new law will come into force in early 2016.