Elderly man fined for illegally catching undersized trout in Hartola, Finland

An elderly man faces significant fines for illegally catching undersized fish. Last November, a resident from Hartola used nets to catch dozens of newly stocked trout from Lake Jääsjärvi, which were specifically planted by a local fishing association. The association had intentionally stocked the fish late in the autumn to discourage fishermen from targeting them at that time.

During two fishing trips, the retiree caught a total of 39 trout, all of which were undersized, as the legal minimum size for catching trout is 50 centimeters. The fish found in his freezer measured between 30 and 40 centimeters. The police were alerted to his activities through social media, where the man’s son posted pictures and information about the catch on Facebook. In police questioning, the man claimed he was unaware of the legal size limit for the trout.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has set the value of one undersized trout at 260 euros, leading the Päijät-Häme District Court to order the man to pay 10,140 euros to the state as financial compensation for his illegal actions. Additionally, he received a fine of 325 euros due to a fishing violation, amounting to 25 daily fines.

The case was handled through written proceedings at the Päijät-Häme District Court. The man has admitted to the offense but expressed dissatisfaction with the sentence, which is not yet final.

Tomi Ranta, director of the Häme Fisheries Center, lamented the illegal catching of undersized fish, noting that this incident has sparked significant discussion within the industry. He expressed concern that such cases may not be isolated and emphasized the serious implications of illegal fishing on fish populations.