Four years ago, Finland implemented legislation that assigns values to threatened fish species, ranging from 50 to 7,510 euros, with the lowest value for crayfish and the highest for an acutely threatened lake salmon. Killing an endangered fish is a criminal offense punishable by fines based on the species’ protection cost, according to Sanna Koljonen of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. This has significantly reduced poaching in the country, and fines depend on the total value of fish caught, even for multiple fish caught at once. The legislation also limits legal fishing for eels to just one month per year, except for illegal fishing, puts the poacher at risk of a fine of approximately SEK 590,000. The law only applies to illegal fishing, though, and not to kills resulting from industrial activities. Finland’s commitment to protecting endangered species reinforces the UN agreement to protect biodiversity worldwide.
Four years ago, new legislation came into force in Finland, where the values of threatened fish species were fixed. The amounts are between 50 and 7,510 euros, in Swedish kronor it corresponds to approximately 560 to 84,100 kroner. The lowest amount is for crayfish and the highest is for an acutely threatened lake salmon.
For the acutely threatened eel, the amount is 3,510 euros, approximately SEK 39,300, per eel.
– If you kill an endangered fish, it is criminal, the punishment is a fine based on the value of what it costs to protect the species, says Sanna Koljonen, legislative advisor at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
– In the past, the situation could be such that when people in Finland were caught fishing for acutely endangered species, the penalty was a fine at the same level as it would have cost to buy the fish in the store.
The values that have been set will be the amount that the poacher must pay in fines per fish caught. The purpose is both to make poaching so expensive that it discourages it, but the value is also there to make the protection of endangered species more efficient.
Grafik: Maja Vilmark. Foto: Wildlife pictures/reporters/science photo library
In conjunction with the amendment to the law was adopted, the then Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Jari Leppä said: “The set values make it easier for the supervisors and the authorities to intervene against illegal fishing and raise the threshold for poachers.”
He got it right.
– The legislation has led to a significant reduction in poaching. We have had some trials where the valuation has been used and it has sent a strong signal to all other people. Those who are sentenced must pay and then people understand that it is serious, says Sanna Koljonen.
– We have had an unhealthy poaching culture, it has been like a kind of hobby for some people to fish illegally.
Sweden’s most spectacular case of poaching is the recently noticed case of former state secretary PM Nilsson’s poaching of eels. When the inspectors from the Maritime and Water Authority found him, he had 15 eels in the boat. He was sentenced to a fine of SEK 38,800.
A corresponding poaching in Finland would result in a fine of approximately SEK 590,000.
– If you catch several fish, it is the aggregated value that applies. If you fish 15 eels, you don’t get a quantity discount, you have to pay the sum for fifteen eels.
Graphics: Maja Vilmark. Photo: Jaakko Julkunen/ Museiverket. Jonas Forsberg/ TT. Science photo library.
According to Sanna Koljonen, the whole attitude towards poaching has changed. Since the new law was introduced, about ten cases have been decided where fines have been imposed according to the existing values.
– People understand that it is not ok, that it is not cool to fish illegally. We have, among other things, a famous hockey player who was previously involved in poaching, who has apologised, she says.
In several of the cases that have been decided, people have posted pictures of illegally fished species on social media, which has led to those who saw the posts tipping off the police.
– I think that fish are special, they are not seen as worth protecting. This type of law reinforces the way we think about fish, that they are just as important as mammals. It is easy to find a common understanding for guarding beautiful arctic foxes, but it is not so easy to understand the importance of individual eels.
Photo: Private
Currently applies the values that have been set only in the case of poaching, kills resulting from industrial activities are not covered. As DN has previously reported, each year around 140,000 eels are killed in hydropower plants. According to the Finnish valuation, it would correspond to a value of SEK 5.5 billion.
– When we developed the legislation for fish, organizations such as WWF and the Finnish Nature Conservation Union wanted it to also cover hydropower or industry that causes environmental destruction. So far, the law only applies to illegal fishing, but we will see in the future if it can be broadened, says Sanna Koljonen.
Graphics: Maja Vilmark. Photo: Eric Medard/TT. Stian Lysberg Solum/ TT.
The amendment to the law for species in seas and waters entered into force in 2019. But since 2001, Finland has had legislation in which there are set values for threatened species, mammals as well as birds, butterflies and amphibians.
For example, poaching wolverines results in a fine of up to just over SEK 184,000, for wolves up to just over SEK 100,000. The value of a sea eagle is set at roughly 82,000 kroner, while the value of a hazel nut is just over 28,000 kroner and some butterfly species are worth around 18,000 kroner.
Graphics: Maja Vilmark. Photo: Kerstin Hinze/ TT. Jonas Ekströmer/ TT. Mikael Fritzon/TT.
Regarding the acutely threatened eel, in addition to a value of poached eel, since last autumn Finland has also limited legal fishing far beyond the six months decided by the EU. In Finland, it is forbidden to fish for eels for eleven months, fishing may only take place in July, a month which is not a significant migration period for the eels and therefore not a strong fishing period either.
– We are proud of our legislation for animal species. There is a great understanding across party lines that animals must be protected, says Sanna Koljonen.
Graphic: Maja Vilmark. Photo: Andy Trowbridge/ TT. Heiko Junge/ TT.
– There is an interesting situation where the Torne river is the border between Finland and Sweden. There are threatened species of trout and salmon in the river. If you fish illegally on the fishing side, the penalty is approximately SEK 35,000 per fish, but on the Swedish side the consequences are considerably less serious.
Finland’s legislation to protect endangered species is in line with reaching the goals of the UN agreement to protect biological diversity that the countries of the world agreed on just before Christmas.
– I strongly encourage and recommend Sweden and other countries to follow Finland’s example and value endangered species, says Sanna Koljonen.
Read more:
Hundreds of thousands of eels are killed in the power plants
The eel “on the verge of disappearing completely” – Sweden still wants to allow fishing
Eels are acutely threatened – only one percent remains in Swedish waters