Fish and crayfish

Fishing is an important traditional livelihood in Finland. Although the value of fish catch has increased in recent years, especially that from the Baltic Sea, the number of fishermen has declined for long. In 2012  there were approximately  2 200 people working with fishery at the Baltic Sea and 400 people along inland waters.

The viability of fish stocks depends on water quality. 85% of Finnish lake area was classified to be of good or very good ecological quality in 2013. Agriculture has affected the water quality in southern and western Finland where eutrophication is most widespread.

The fish catch sizes have grown in recent years in the Baltic Sea, where total catch reached to 120 million kg in 2012. Economically most important fish species include Baltic herring, strat and cod. In inland waters the professional fishing has resulted to catch between 4-5 million kg in the 2000s. The biggest professional catches in inland waters are fished in Southern Savonia where lake areas are vast.