Fisheries Regions

A Fisheries Region is a supervisory board that are responsible for the fisheries management in a local fishing district. Water owners association, private water owners and commercial and recreational fishers' associations within the fishing district are represented in the Fisheries Regions' supervisory board. Pursuant to the Fishing Act, the local fishing districts adopt regulations on fishing gear, minimum size of fish, or closed areas in their waters or part of them. Decisions by the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY-centre) on bans on ice- fishing and angling can be found by exploring the following map. 

There are six fisheries Regions in Ostrobothnia:

• Kristinestad-Storå fishing district covers Kristiinankaupunki, Bötom, Isojoki and Teuva.

• Södra Kust-Österbottens fishing district covers Kaskinen, Närpes, Korsnäs, Malax, and Vaasa. The district has imposed a restriction on the minimum size of White fish, which shall be 30 cm and observed in all forms of fishing.

• Kvarken fishing district covers Korsholm, Vörå-Maxmo-Oravais and Vähäkyrö. TThe district has also established a closed area for fishing, covering the outlet and delta of the Kyröälv/Kyrönjoki river. It is prohibited to fish pikeperch within the closed area in June. The ban applies to all forms of fishing, including angling, jigging, and lure fishing.

• Norra Kust-Österbottens fishing district covers Nykarleby, Larsmo, Pedersöre, Kronoby, Jakobstad and Kokkola. Pursuant to the Fishing Act, the district has established a closed area for fishing on Larsmo-Öja lake. The ban is valid from 15th May until 15th June each year, prohibiting the fishing of pike-perch. The district has also adopted a restriction on the minimum size of powan, applicable in the sea waters. The powan shall have the minimum size of 25 cm in all forms of fishing.

A map of the local fishing districts can be found here.

Pursuant to the ELY-centre’s resolution, all currents of water in Ostrobothnia are regarded as salmon or powan waters – meaning that fishing by virtue of general fishing right is not allowed in rapids or streams. Consequently, in order to fish in rapids and streams the fisherman must obtain a licence from the owner of the fishing water in question.

Minimum sizes

The minimum size of some fish species, as prescribed by the Fishing Decree, as well as local rules and regulations set by the fishing districts in Ostrobothnia, Finland:

Salmon                    60 cm (in northern Gulf of Bothnia: 50 cm)
Sea trout                 60 cm (only fin-clipped)
Brown trout             60 cm
Pike-perch              37 cm
Grayling                  35 cm

The local fishing districts may pass regulations on the minimum size of other fish species, too, or they may stipulate that the size of certain species of fish shall be bigger than that provided by the Decree.