Finland
Europe · Northern Europe
Recreational spearfishing (underwater fishing with a harpoon/speargun by freediving) is legal in Finland but is not part of the free public 'common fishing right'. Under the Fishing Act (379/2015), only angling and ice fishing are free everyman's rights; lure fishing requires the state fisheries management fee. Spearfishing falls into 'fishing other than angling or ice fishing', so anyone aged 18-69 must pay the state fisheries management fee (47 euros/year, 16 euros/7 days, 6 euros/day in 2026) AND must obtain the permission of the holder of the fishing right (water-area owner), because spearfishing is not covered by the common right and the management fee alone only entitles the holder to lure fishing with one rod. Harpoon/fishgig is prohibited by law in rapids and currents of waters containing migratory fish at all times, and is prohibited everywhere from 15 April to 31 May. Firearms (and therefore firearm/explosive-powered spearfishing devices) are prohibited as a fishing method; band and pneumatic spearguns are not firearms and are permitted. Minimum catch sizes and species protection/closed periods apply. Scuba use is not banned by the Fishing Act, but Finnish spearfishing practice is freediving only.
Senast uppdaterad juni 14, 2026
Styrande regelverk
- §Fishing Act / Kalastuslaki (379/2015), as amended
- §Government Decree on Fishing / Valtioneuvoston asetus kalastuksesta (1360/2015), as amended (minimum sizes and protection periods)
- Licens krävs
- Krävs
- Harpungevär
- Tillåtet
- Utlänningar
- Välkomna
Lagen, ordagrant
Lagtexter
De exakta författnings- och regleringsbestämmelser som styr harpunfiske här, citerade som de publicerats, med en länk till varje officiell källa.
Common fishing rights (free angling/ice fishing; fee for lure fishing)
Fishing Act (379/2015)
Section 7. Common fishing rights. (1) Everyone has a right to engage in angling and ice fishing and to fish Baltic herring with a rod and vertically moved hooks attached to a line free of charge. (2) Everyone who has paid the fisheries management fee and everyone under 18 or at least 65 years of age has the right to engage in lure fishing. Provisions on the fisheries management fee and its payment are laid down in Chapter 9. (3) The rights referred to above in subsections 1 and 2 do not apply to rapids and currents in waters containing migratory fish or water areas where fishing is prohibited on the basis of another provision. Permit of the fishing right holder shall be obtained for angling, ice fishing and lure fishing competitions and similar organised events. (4) The provisions of subsections 1-3 above also apply to State-owned water areas.
Definitions of fishing methods (angling, ice fishing, lure fishing, management fee)
Fishing Act (379/2015)
5) angling means fishing with one rod and hook without a reel suitable for spinning and without a lure; 6) ice fishing means fishing with a short rod and a vertically moved jig attached to a line; 7) lure means an artificially manufactured troll, wobbler, fly, jig or a comparable lure equipped with a hook which lures fish to strike with its movement, colour or shape; 8) lure fishing means fishing with a rod and lure other than angling or ice fishing, trolling with one rod, lure and weighted lure and reel fishing; 9) fisheries management fee means a payment to be made to the State for the promotion of fishery;
Prohibited ways of fishing, catching methods and fishing equipment (harpoon/fishgig and firearms)
Fishing Act (379/2015)
Section 46 - Prohibited ways of fishing, catching methods and fishing equipment. (1) The following ways of fishing, catching methods and fishing equipment are prohibited in fishing: 1) pressure obtained by means of an explosion or otherwise; 2) firearms; 3) intoxicating or toxic substances or substances that otherwise contaminate water; 4) electricity; 5) intentional hooking of the fish from outside; 6) fishgig, harpoon or a comparable blade, hook or a pointed equipment, fishing by using fire or light with a landing net in a river, rapids and currents in waters with migratory fish and, from 15 April to 31 May, in other waters as well; 7) in rapids and currents in waters with migratory fish, angling, ice fishing and fishing with a grayling trap; 8) a net drifting with currents or attached to a vessel; 9) other fishing gear, devices and ways of fishing that unnecessarily damage or kill fish or endanger the preservation of a fish stock or are harmful to biodiversity. (2) Prohibited fishing equipment shall not be stored in a vehicle used for fishing or kept readily at hand for fishing. However, transporting a firearm used for hunting is allowed.
Fisheries management fee required for fishing other than angling or ice fishing
Fishing Act (379/2015)
Section 79. Fisheries management fee and adjusting it. (1) For fishing other than angling or ice fishing, persons 18 to 64 years of age shall pay a fisheries management fee to the State. The fisheries management fee is 39 euros for a calendar year, 12 euros for seven days and 5 euros for a day. (2) A proof of payment of the fisheries management fee shall be kept in one's possession when fishing and shown to the authority referred to in section 99 or fishing supervisor upon request. (3) The amount of the fisheries management fee shall be adjusted every five years by Government decree in accordance with the change in the value of money. The amount of the fee shall be rounded to the nearest full euro.
När du får dyka
Säsonger & tidsbegränsningar
Fredningstider, öppna och begränsade perioder över året. Bekräfta alltid artspecifika fredningar lokalt.
- FredningstidHarpoon / fishgig spearfishing in all watersapr 15 – maj 31
Under Fishing Act 379/2015 Section 46(1)(6), the use of a fishgig, harpoon or comparable blade/pointed equipment is prohibited from 15 April to 31 May in all waters (and at all times in rivers, rapids and currents in waters containing migratory fish). This effectively bans spearfishing nationwide during the spring spawning closure.
- FredningstidMigratory trout (sea trout) - fully protectedjan 1 – dec 31
Migratory trout (sea trout) is fully protected (year-round) in all sea areas and in inland waters south of latitude 64 deg 00 N; it must be released. Salmon and migratory trout are also protected 1 September - 30 November in rivers and streams.
- FredningstidGrayling in inland waters south of 67 deg 00 Napr 1 – maj 31
Grayling is protected (closed season) from 1 April to 31 May in inland waters south of latitude 67 deg 00 N.
Tillstånd att fiska
Licens
Vad du behöver för att få vara i vattnet, vad det kostar och hur du skaffar det.
Pay the state fisheries management fee via Metsahallitus Eraluvat (eraluvat.fi), the Erakauppa shops, R-kioski kiosks, or by phone; then obtain the separate permission/permit of the owner of the water area where you intend to spearfish.
Skaffa din licensÖppnar den officiella portalen · eraluvat.fi
- Typ
- State fisheries management fee (kalastonhoitomaksu) PLUS permission of the fishing right holder (water-area owner) for the specific water
- Kostnad
- Fisheries management fee (2026): 47 euros per calendar year, 16 euros per 7-day period, 6 euros per day. Water-owner permits vary (e.g. local/regional permits; may be free or paid).
- Giltighet
- Calendar year / 7 days / 1 day depending on fee purchased
- Hur du skaffar den
- Pay the state fisheries management fee via Metsahallitus Eraluvat (eraluvat.fi), the Erakauppa shops, R-kioski kiosks, or by phone; then obtain the separate permission/permit of the owner of the water area where you intend to spearfish.
- Myndighet
- Metsahallitus (Eraluvat) on behalf of the State; water-area owner / fishery association for local permission
Utrustning & teknik
Utrustningsregler
Vilken utrustning som är tillåten, hur den får användas och vilka villkor som gäller.
Restriktioner
- Firearms are prohibited as a fishing method (Fishing Act s.46(1)(2)) - firearm/explosive-powered spearfishing devices are illegal; band-powered and pneumatic spearguns are not firearms and are permitted.
- Explosives and any pressure obtained by explosion are prohibited (s.46(1)(1)).
- Fishgig / harpoon / comparable pointed equipment is prohibited at all times in rivers and in rapids and currents of waters with migratory fish, and from 15 April to 31 May in all other waters (s.46(1)(6)).
- Intentional hooking of fish from outside ('rokastus') is always prohibited (s.46(1)(5)); also reaffirmed in municipal rules such as Helsinki.
- Prohibited fishing equipment must not be stored in a vehicle used for fishing or kept readily at hand (s.46(2)).
The Fishing Act does not expressly ban the use of scuba (compressed-air diving) equipment for spearfishing, so scuba is left as 'unknown/not regulated' at national statutory level; however, Finnish spearfishing practice and dive associations treat the sport as strictly freediving (breath-hold) only, and responsible divers do not spearfish on scuba. Confirm any local water-owner conditions.
Vad du får ta
Fångstbegränsningar & skyddade arter
Dagliga kvoter, minimimått och arter som aldrig får tas.
Daglig gräns
Salmon: max 2 per fisher per day. Landlocked salmon in the Vuoksi waterway: 1 per day. No general numeric daily bag limit for all species; species-specific limits, minimum sizes and protections apply.
Minimimått
- Salmon (sea)min 60 cm
- Salmon (Bay of Bothnia, north of 63 deg 30 N)min 50 cm
- Landlocked salmonmin 60 cm
- Migratory trout / sea trout (without adipose fin, where allowed)min 50 cm
- Pike-perch (zander / kuha)min 42 cm
- Grayling (north of 67 deg 00 N)min 30 cm
- Grayling (south of 67 deg 00 N)min 35 cm
Skyddade arter — får inte tas
- SkyddadMigratory trout (sea trout) with adipose fin - fully protected in all sea areas and inland waters south of 64 deg 00 N (must be released)
- SkyddadLandlocked salmon in the Vuoksi and Hiitolanjoki rivers - fully protected
- SkyddadSalmon and migratory trout in rivers and streams - protected 1 September to 30 November
- SkyddadGrayling south of 67 deg 00 N in inland waters - protected 1 April to 31 May
Minimum catch sizes and protection periods are set in the Government Decree on Fishing (1360/2015) as amended and summarised by Metsahallitus/Eraluvat. Figures vary by latitude and water body; verify the exact local figures before fishing.
Vem som får fiska
Besökare & bofasta
Hur reglerna skiljer sig för utländska besökare och lokalt bofasta.
Utländska besökare
TillåtetKrav
- Pay the same state fisheries management fee as residents (47 euros/year, 16 euros/7 days, 6 euros/day in 2026) if aged 18-69.
- Obtain the permission of the fishing right holder (water-area owner) for the specific water, the same as residents.
- In public sea water areas and the exclusive economic zone, the recreational fishing right under s.8 is granted to citizens of EEA states who have paid the fee.
Restriktioner
- Same gear, season, minimum-size and protected-species rules apply as for residents.
- Section 8 public-sea-area recreational fishing right is framed around EEA citizens; non-EEA visitors should rely on the management fee plus water-owner permission and check locally.
No nationality-based spearfishing ban; foreigners are treated essentially the same as residents (pay the fee, get owner permission, follow gear/season/size rules).
Bofasta
State fisheries management fee (kalastonhoitomaksu) plus water-owner permission; free for angling and ice fishing under the common right
Krav
- Persons aged 18-69 must pay the state fisheries management fee for fishing other than angling/ice fishing (which includes spearfishing).
- Obtain the permission of the holder of the fishing right (water-area owner / fishery association) for the specific water.
- Comply with gear bans (s.46), the 15 April-31 May harpoon closure, minimum sizes and species protections.
Förmåner
- Angling and ice fishing (and Baltic herring rod fishing) are free common rights for everyone (s.7).
- Persons under 18, and persons who turned 65 by 31 December 2023 (transitional), are exempt from the fisheries management fee.
Age exemption was raised by amendment: the management fee now applies to ages 18-69, with a transitional exemption for those who had turned 65 by 31 December 2023. The verbatim 2015 Act text still reads '18 to 64 years' and a fee of 39 euros; current administrative figures (47/16/6 euros, ages 18-69) reflect later decree adjustments.
Var på kusten
Tillåtna & förbjudna zoner
Namngivna områden som är öppna för eller stängda för harpunfiske. Se hela bilden på den interaktiva kartan.
Tillåtna områden
EEA citizens who have paid the fisheries management fee (and persons under 18 / over the exempt age) may engage in recreational fishing in Finland's exclusive economic zone and public sea water areas (Fishing Act s.8). Spearfishing in these public areas still requires the management fee; in privately owned/shared water areas the permission of the fishing right holder is also required.
Management fee required for ages 18-69; freediving only in practice; harpoon banned 15 Apr-31 May and always in migratory-fish rapids/currents; minimum sizes and species protection apply.
Förbjudna områden
- Rivers, rapids and currents in waters containing migratory fishstatutory no-take / gear-restricted area (migratory fish waters)
Use of a fishgig, harpoon or comparable pointed equipment is prohibited at all times in rivers and in rapids and currents of waters containing migratory fish (Fishing Act 379/2015 s.46(1)(6)).
- Lake Saimaa - Saimaa ringed seal protection areasprotected species habitat (Saimaa ringed seal)
Lake Saimaa is the habitat of the critically endangered Saimaa ringed seal (Pusa hispida saimensis). Fishing gear and net restrictions apply in seal areas; spearfishing here is freediving only by local norm. Divers and fishers are urged to avoid disturbing seals. Always check local water-owner and Metsahallitus restrictions before spearfishing in Saimaa.
Vem du ska fråga
Myndigheter
De officiella organ som ansvarar för fiske och licensiering.
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Maa- ja metsatalousministerio)
fisheries ministry / legislator
mmm.fikirjaamo.mmm@gov.fiMetsahallitus - Eraluvat (Wildlife and Fishing Permits)
fisheries / permit authority (collects state fisheries management fee, manages State waters)
eraluvat.fieraluvat@metsa.fi, +358 20 69 2424Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY-keskus)
regional fisheries administration / exceptional permits
ely-keskus.fivia regional ELY centre
Var detta kommer från
Källor
Varje påstående på denna sida går att spåra tillbaka till en av dessa referenser.
- [01]
Fishing Act (379/2015) - official English translation (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry / Finlex)
Officiellfinlex.fiHämtad jun 14 - [02]
Fishing Act | 379/2015 | Translations of statutes | Finlex (landing page)
Officiellfinlex.fiHämtad jun 14 - [03]
Fisheries management fee - Eraluvat (Metsahallitus)
Officielleraluvat.fiHämtad jun 14 - [04]
State fishing fees - Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Officiellmmm.fiHämtad jun 14 - [05]
Minimum catch sizes and protection periods - Eraluvat (Metsahallitus)
Officielleraluvat.fiHämtad jun 14 - [06]
Frequently asked questions about fishing - Eraluvat (Metsahallitus)
Officielleraluvat.fiHämtad jun 14 - [07]
Fishing Regulations - City of Helsinki (gigging permit; external-hook ban)
Officiellhel.fiHämtad jun 14 - [08]
Spearfishing / diving fishing - Saimaan Norpat ry (freediving-only practice; Saimaa)
communitysaimaannorpat.comHämtad jun 14 - [09]
Spearfishing in Europe - Law, Rules and Restrictions (Finland section)
Sekundärharpune.infoHämtad jun 14
Forskaranteckningar
Spearfishing is legal in Finland as 'fishing other than angling or ice fishing' but is NOT a free common right. Two things are required for ages 18-69: (1) the state fisheries management fee (47 euros/year, 16 euros/7 days, 6 euros/day in 2026), and (2) permission of the holder of the fishing right (water-area owner) for the specific water, because the management fee alone only grants lure fishing with one rod. Key statutory restriction: Fishing Act 379/2015 s.46(1)(6) prohibits harpoon/fishgig at all times in rivers and in rapids/currents of migratory-fish waters, and from 15 April to 31 May everywhere (a de facto national spring spearfishing closure). Firearms are banned as a fishing method (s.46(1)(2)), so only band-powered/pneumatic spearguns (not firearm/explosive-powered) are lawful. Minimum sizes and species protections (esp. fully protected sea trout, salmon and landlocked salmon closures) apply. The verbatim 2015 Act text quoted in law_texts reads 'persons 18 to 64' and '39 euros'; later decree adjustments raised the fee to 47 euros and the upper age to 69 (with transitional exemption for those who had turned 65 by 31 Dec 2023) - the verbatim figures are preserved as legally enacted, with current administrative figures captured in the license/residents fields. Scuba spearfishing is not expressly prohibited by national statute but is treated as freediving-only by Finnish dive/spearfishing practice; confirmed only as community norm, hence scuba_allowed left null. Local municipal/water-owner rules (e.g. Helsinki, Saimaa seal areas) can add further restrictions and should always be checked. Data confidence is high for the core national legal framework (verbatim from the official Finlex English translation) and medium for current fee/age figures and species tables (official secondary summaries).
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