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The fisheries management fee is required if you are 18–69 years of age and will be fishing with lures or traps or crayfishing. Fishers who have reached the age of 65 or more by 31 December 2023 are an exception: they do not have to pay the fee.

The fisheries management fee entitles you to fish in nearly the entire country using one rod. In some cases, however, anglers will require the permission of the owner of a given water area. Proceeds from the fisheries management fee are used to manage fishing waters and fish stocks as well as monitor fishing activity and provide advice to anglers. The fisheries management fee is based on the Fishing Act. For additional information, please send email at eraluvat@metsa.fi or call the service number at +358 (0)20 69 2424.

How to pay the fee

PRICE AND PERIOD OF VALIDITY

  • 47 € / calendar year 
  • 16 € / week
  • 6 € / day

The fisheries management fee always applies to calendar days (starts and ends at 12 midnight) and calendar years (1.1.-31.12.), but the period of validity for a weekly payment may begin on the desired day of the week (starts and ends at 12 midnight). The prices are regulated by Parliament under the Fishing Act.

Where to purchase

 

With the Eräluvat app, you can pay the fisheries management fee quickly and easily. Read the instructions for using the app.  

 

The service is open on weekdays from 9 AM to 3 PM.

 

 

Information on fisheries management fee

Payment obligation

The fisheries management fee is required if you are 18–69 years of age and will be fishing with lures or traps or crayfishing. Fishers who have reached the age of 65 or more by 31 December 2023 are an exception: they do not have to pay the fee.

Payment of the fisheries management fee is not required if you are ice fishing, hook and line fishing or fishing with a simple herring rig with a single rod, or are under 18 years of age, over 70 years of age or have reached the age of 65 or more by 31 December 2023. However, it is still possible to pay the fisheries management fee also in these cases – it’s an investment in nature.

The need for the fisheries management fee and angling permits is determined by the fishing method used and age of the angler

 

Fishing method Anglers 18–69 years of age* Anglers under 18 and over 70 years of age*
Fishing with a simple herring rig, ice fishing and hook and line fishing with one rod. No charge.** No charge.**
Fishing with a simple herring rig, ice fishing and hook and line fishing with more than one rod. Fisheries management fee and permission of the water area owner. Permission of the water area owner.
Lure fishing with one rod. Fisheries management fee.** No charge.**
Lure fishing with more than one rod. Fisheries management fee and permission of the water area owner.*** Permission of the water area owner.***
Trap fishing and crayfishing. Fisheries management fee and permission of the water area owner.*** Permission of the water area owner.***

* Fishers who have reached the age of 65 or more by 31 December 2023, i.e., born in 1958, are exempt from the fisheries management fee. This is because the Parliament increased the upper limit for payment obligation in 2023 but exempted those who managed to reach the maximum age limit laid down in the old act in time.

** Not applicable in running and rapids sections of waters with migratory fish stocks, areas prohibited for fishing and special destinations requiring a destination-specific permit. If fishing is permitted in these areas, a permit from the owner of the water area is needed for fishing with one rod in some areas in addition to the fisheries management fee, and in some areas, a permit from the owner of the water area is needed for angling, ice angling and herring rigging.

***  Not applicable for fishing in state-owned public waters at sea, where fishing with multiple rods and recreational trap fishing only requires a fisheries management fee. No permit is required for persons under the age of 18 or over 65.

Fishing rights

The fisheries management fee entitles angler to fish with one rod nearly everywhere in Finland as well as in public sea areas owned by the state. Angling with more than one rod and trap fishing require a fishing permit for a specific water area in addition to payment of the fisheries management fee ***. These are sold by the owner of the water area, such as Metsähallitus for state-owned waters.

There are restrictions in protected water areas, special destinations that require separate permits or in rapids and running waters with migratory fish stocks. The website Kalastusrajoitus.fi contains a map showing all the no-fishing zones and restricted areas (in Finnish and Swedish).

The fisheries management fee does not entitle the angler to fish in Åland.

Allocation of fee proceeds

Metsähallitus forwards proceeds from payments to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry every month. The proceeds are used to maintain fishing opportunities and manage natural water environments.

The proceeds are allocated to fisheries areas for: planning the sustainable development and management of fish stocks; paying compensation to water area owners for the use of their water for fishing; organisation advisory services and monitoring of fishing activity; and various actors' projects, which aim to improve fish habitats.

Payment receipt

The fisheries management fee is an individual fee, but it may also be paid on someone else's behalf. The permit holder's name, contact details and date of birth (not the personal identification number) must appear on the permit. Metsähallitus maintains the fisheries management fee register.

The payment receipt is proof that the fisheries management fee has been paid. Anglers must keep the receipt with them while fishing and present it in paper, plastic or electronic form to the authorities or fishing inspector upon request. A fishing permit is also proof of payment of the fisheries management fee. It is sent along with a Suomu magazine to all payers of the fisheries management fee to a permanent address in Finland.  

If an angler does not have the payment receipt with them, they will be ordered to go to a police station within seven days in order to present the receipt that was valid at the time of fishing. The penalty for failing to pay the fishing management fee is a fixed fine of EUR 100.

Frequently asked questions

What documents should I have with me when I'm out fishing?

The payment receipt for the fisheries management fee is acceptable as proof of payment. If you do not have the fisheries management fee payment receipt with you, the inspector will order you to go to a police station within seven days in order to present the receipt that was valid at the time of fishing. Persons under 18 years of age and 70 years and up are required to have official identification as proof of their age.

If I turn 65 this year, do I still have to pay the fisheries management fee?

The fisheries management fee must be paid until the day you turn 70. This does not apply to fishers who have reached the age of 65 or more during the period of validity of the old act, i.e., by 31 December 2023. The new age limit applies to all younger fishers. The fisheries management fee can be paid for an entire year or in 1 or 7-day periods.

Where can I purchase fishing permits for privately owned waters?

Finding the seller of fishing permits is easier if you know which area you will be fishing in. Many fishing districts have their own website, which provides detailed information on how to purchase the necessary permits.

Fishing associations and fisheries centres, which are found in each region, can also provide assistance with finding a seller. Information on fisheries centres can be found on the Federation of Finnish Fisheries Associations at Ahven.net (in Finnish). You can also get advice from fisheries experts with the Finnish Federation for Recreational Fishing. These experts serve regionally all over Finland. You can find their contact information on the FFRF website at Vapaa-ajankalastaja.fi.

Many municipalities and cities present information on what types of fishing permits are required for their waters on their own websites.

Read more answers on the page Frequently asked questions about fishing.