Fishing tourism services may be offered on state-owned areas, provided that a cooperation agreement has been made with Metsähallitus and the required permits have been obtained.
Finland’s clean environment and excellent fishing waters offer great opportunities for entrepreneurs providing fishing tourism services. To preserve or improve these high‑quality conditions, all operators must commit to responsible practices.
Finland has extensive public fishing rights, but they do not allow commercial tourism activities. Organising fishing tourism services generally requires permission from the holder of the fishing rights. On state-owned areas, this permission is granted by Metsähallitus.
To provide fishing tourism services on state-owned waters, a company must enter into a cooperation agreement with Metsähallitus Wilderness Services.
The cooperation agreement defines the framework for fishing, fishing sites, and any additional fishing regulations that can be more specific than those set forth in the Fishing Act and Decree. The conditions determined by Metsähallitus specialists take into account other fishing activities, reindeer husbandry, local shoreline residents, and the guidelines of fisheries management plans. Once the agreement is signed, you gain access to a notification procedure, through which you report the number of participants and timing of each fishing event. Notifications are submitted in the Business Portal, for which you will receive login credentials.
If you organise fishing tourism services injoint permit areas or on Metsähallitus’ special fishing sites, you must purchase site-specific angling permits for your customers. In areas where permit arrangements involve restrictions or are coordinated with other water area owners (such as the joint permits for the River Tornion–Muonionjoki and River Könkämäeno, or for the River Meltausjoki), Metsähallitus cannot offer the fishing tourism notification procedure.
Please note that the fishing tourism cooperation agreement does not remove the requirement for the personal fisheries management fee.
For more information
Every customer aged 18–69 who fishes with lures, traps or nets or who catches crayfish, must have paid the fisheries management fee. An exception applies to fishers who turned at least 65 by 31 December 2023. A company can take care of its customers’ fisheries management fees through the Business Portal. Access to the portal is granted once a cooperation agreement has been made.
In addition to the fishing tourism cooperation agreement, a fishing lease agreement may be suitable if you mainly provide fishing tourism services in one specific location. A lease agreement supports long‑term fishing tourism operations and enables the management of the water area and fish stocks according to the terms of the agreement. Please note that fishing lease agreements are not made for all water areas managed by Metsähallitus. For example, the waters of Upper Lapland are not suitable for fishing lease sites. A lease agreement may also be impossible in areas where there is established fishing activity.
The permits for fishing guides are handled by the Economic Development Centre. The Centre may grant a permit covering its entire area of operation or part of it to organise fishing tourism events with a maximum of six participants at a time, involving hook and line fishing, ice fishing or lure fishing.
Once the fishing tourism entrepreneur has received the permit, they must pay an annual fisheries management fee of 100 euros to the state. The fee can be paid by ordering an invoice for the guide permit from Metsähallitus.
When a company uses state lands or recreational structures maintained by Metsähallitus in its operations, a cooperation or usage agreement is usually required. For one-time activities, paying a usage fee is sufficient.
Safari activities and the snowmobile routes used in them must be agreed upon with Metsähallitus in advance. Also, remember the safari notification!
