Finland and Sweden urged to implement stricter fishing regulations for salmon in Tornionjoki River

According to a fishery researcher, Finland and Sweden should jointly implement stricter fishing regulations to assist the salmon population in the Tornionjoki River. The declining salmon run was a key topic during King Carl XVI Gustaf’s visit to the Tornio Valley on Thursday. Asko Romakkaniemi, a specialist at the Natural Resources Institute, noted that if current data suggests it, both nations should adopt stricter measures than those agreed upon at EU negotiation tables concerning marine catch quotas and coarse regulations.

Romakkaniemi emphasized the need for tighter and more responsive collaboration, particularly as salmon is primarily fished in Finland and Sweden, with both countries targeting the same fish stocks. Agriculture and Forestry Minister Sari Essayah, who participated in the royal visit, remarked on the alarmingly low salmon numbers recorded over the past two years. She stressed the importance of identifying the underlying causes and mentioned that the European Commission has initiated a survey to examine whether the growing seal population might be a contributing factor. However, Romakkaniemi doubts that seals are a significant reason for the declining salmon.

This year, Finland’s commercial salmon fishing quota is over one-third smaller than in previous years. Additionally, recreational fishers will be required to report their catch sizes in marine and river areas, which the government plans to introduce in a legislative proposal this autumn, aiming for implementation at the year’s end. Romakkaniemi expressed cautious optimism, hoping that recreational fishers will accurately report all their catches.

The visit also highlighted efforts to restore fish migration pathways, including the Tengeliönjoki fishway, part of the EU’s largest river restoration project in the Tornionjoki watershed. Romakkaniemi acknowledged that, despite substantial financial resources, only small areas are ultimately rehabilitated, underscoring the significant logistical demands of such restoration efforts.