Fisheries environmental program

The environmental program for fisheries focuses on improving the vitality, yield and sustainable utilization of fish resources, as well as supporting the conditions for the natural reproduction of fish resources.

Five goals are defined in the development plan of the environmental program: diversifying the habitat of fish, piloting results-based financing models, revitalizing whitefish production in the Gulf of Finland, developing methods for restoring migratory fish and supporting sustainable fishing. The measures aimed at realizing the goals can be flexibly adjusted as the program progresses.

For example, the development of stream water restoration and monitoring methods and related know-how, environmental DNA and environmental flow, and the promotion of eel transmigration have been brought up. Results-based financing models will be tried out in various renovation projects, which enable smaller projects and actors to be combined into larger entities.

A solution to the collapsed whitefish catch in the Gulf of Finland is being sought by developing the planting of newly hatched chicks in Kymijoki. Improvements are being sought in the productivity of migrating salmon fry breeding by expanding stimulus breeding and developing planting methods. The sustainability of fishing could be influenced by clarifying protected area goals or smooth reporting of bycatch.

The goals have been formed in cooperation with the most important stakeholders and the Fisheries Network in such a way that they are central to the restoration and preservation of sustainable fishing and the living natural resources of the waters. The measures support both the Domestic Fish Promotion Program and the Prioritized Action Framework (PAF) of Finland’s Natura 2000 network and connectivity.

Partners:

  • Natural Resources Center (coordinator)
  • Southeast Finland Fisheries Association
  • West Uusimaa Water and Environment Association
  • Spring DNA
  • Finnish Environmental Center
  • Valonia
  • University of Eastern Finland
  • University of Jyväskylä

New partners can join the network.

Funding of 750,000 euros for the years 2023–2026 has been granted to the fisheries environmental program. For the implementation, additional funding will also be sought from other funding sources