Published on: 16.9.2021

Information produced by Finnish Environment Institute

Which fish species are caught in Finland?

Pike, perch, Baltic herring, salmon, zander… Dozens of edible fish species that provide healthy and sustainably produced food are found in Finnish waters.

Fishing has long traditions in Finland. Species found in local waters have been caught for household use. Even small lakes have yielded such species as perch, pike, freshwater bream and orfe, and often also zander. Larger lakes have additionally provided vendace, smelt and whitefish, whereas Baltic herring, European sprat and flounder have also been caught along the Baltic Sea coasts.

In days gone by, the salmon was an important fish for feeding families. While salmon and species closely related to it are today mainly fished for sport, commercial trapping of salmon still goes on along the coasts, however under strict regulation.

Recreation has become a more important aspect of fishing for household use, and the tourism industry has also turned fishing into a product. More than one out of four Finnish people say they enjoy recreational fishing. Their annual catch is 20 to 30 million kilograms, with perch and pike accounting for more than one half of this amount.

Measured by the weight of the catch, the Baltic herring is by far the most important species for commercial fishing, the annual catch of which amounts to almost one hundred million kilograms. The trawling and trapping of the Baltic herring and European sprat in Finland have been awarded an international certificate for sustainable fishing by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

Only part of the Baltic herring catch is consumed by humans, as most of it is used for animal feed. With this catch, a large volume of nutrients that cause eutrophication are removed from the Baltic Sea. Eating Baltic herring helps the environment!

Image: © Petri Jauhiainen, Vastavalo