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Foreign citizens have the same fishing opportunities and obligations as Finns.

You can pay the national fisheries management fee and obtain fishing permits from Metsähallitus for state-owned waters where fishing requires a separate permit. The fisheries management fee is a statutory general fishing fee, which is valid everywhere in Finland except Åland. Metsähallitus fishing permits apply to state-owned waters.

If you are fishing with a single rod, the fisheries management fee will be sufficient nearly everywhere in Finland. If you are fishing with more than one rod, trap fishing, crayfishing, fishing in rapids and running water, or fishing in special destinations, you will need a fishing permit from the owner of the water area in addition to the fisheries management fee. Many fishing destinations administered by Metsähallitus require both a fisheries management fee and fishing permit.

The purchase of a permit is an investment in nature, as Metsähallitus uses the proceeds from the permits for the management of fisheries and securing the future of fishing in Finland. The catch report submitted by anglers also plays an important role in planning sustainable fishing arrangements.

Fishing News

Wilderness crime was on the rise

29.02.2024

Last year, there were more instances of fishing without a permit and more use of illegal means of hunting large predators, reveals the wilderness supervision report published today by Metsähallitus. Wilderness supervision inspected nearly 7,000 people during the year. The inspections resulted in 520 measures: 57 cases were referred for pre-trial investigation and 463 resulted in more lenient measures.

Hunters and fishers applied for more than 185,000 permits for state-owned areas

02.02.2024

The number exceeds the previous year's permits by 6,000 and the pre-pandemic levels by 20,000. The demand for wilderness permits would be even higher at many sites, but hunting and fishing is restricted by quotas. 

Maintenance break in the Excursionmap.fi map service 7 Novemebr

03.11.2023

Maintenance will be done in the Excursionmap.fi on Tuesday morning 7th of November 2023 from 07:00 to 10:00. During this period, there may be service interruptions in the Excursionmap.fi.

Fisheries management fees have been purchased for nearly EUR 10 million

27.10.2023

Fishers have been significantly more scrupulous in paying the statutory fisheries management fee than last year. This year, people from Lapland, Kainuu and North Karelia have paid the most in fisheries management fees in proportion to the population. People from Uusimaa paid relatively the smallest amount in fisheries management fees, but the most in volume.

Frequently asked questions about fishing

Where can I fish with a fisheries management fee? Where can I find information on fishing permits for privately-owned waters? When might it be necessary to pay compensation for the conservation value of an endangered fish species?

Read the answers to frequently asked questions.

Responsible fishing

We want to encourage all fishers to consider the well-being of the fish. Each and every fisher is obligated to ensure the proper and respectful treatment of the fish they catch, regardless of whether they intend to release them or keep them for food.

Get to know the guidelines for responsible fishing.