Fishing permits & General information

Fishing in Finland is based on general fishing rights, which are comparable to everyone's rights. Under the general fishing right, everyone has the right to pike, fish with one rod and hook without bait, and to fish for herring. General fishing rights do not apply to rapids and stream areas of migratory fish waters, nor to those water areas where fishing is prohibited for other reasons.  

Lure fishing with one lure requires the payment of the fisheries management fee from every angler at the age of 18 - 64 years, that is collected by the Finnish State. The management fee grants you the right to fish with a single rod in nearly the entire country. 

Fishing in state-owned running waters and special fishing destinations requires an angling permit. Trap fishing, fishing with more than one rod or crayfishing in state-owned waters also requires a separate permit. These permits are issued by the Finnish Forest and Park Services.

Fishing on the Artery river requires its own angling permit for the joint fishing area.

Fishing activities are supervised by different authorities (police, border guards, fishing authorities, customs officials) as part of their official duties. Sworn and trained fishing supervisors approved by an ELY Centre also have the authority to conduct fishing supervision as defined in the Fishing Act.