Finnish Fish Atlas and Stock Register

The Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute (FGFRI) has monitored the occurrence of commercially valuable fish species systematically since 1985, when it began collecting a stock-based database to be incorporated into a single, nation-wide register. The data were gathered by means of questionnaires and sent to regional fisheries and environment authorities throughout the country in 1985, 1990, 1993 and 1996. The database has since been updated according to need.

In the first stage, data were collected on stocks of six fish species (Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar, brown trout; Salmo trutta, Arctic charr; Salvelinus alpinus, grayling; Thymallus thymallus, whitefish; Coregonus lavaretus and vendace; C. albula. In the 1996 questionnaire five additional species listed by the EU Habitats Directive and occurring in Finland were added to the register: river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis), brook lamprey (L. planeri), Atlantic salmon, asp (Aspius aspius), spined loach (Cobitis taenia) and bullhead (Cottus gobio). Also included was the vimba (Vimba vimba), a species considered to be in decline.

The database was published in English as the Finnish Fish Atlas (Kaukoranta et al. 2000) and has since been expanded to include all 31 fish species occurring in Finland that are considered to have trade value.

The goal of the project

The conservation of the habitats and diversity of fish are regarded as an important goal, internationally and nationally. International agreements, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (UN 1992) and the Habitats Directive of the European Union, 92/43/EEC, require conscientious monitoring and conservation. The sustainable use of the fish stock requires simultaneous maintenance of their biological diversity. There is thus a clear need for information about fish stocks and their status for management, stocking and conservation purposes.

Available on the web

The Finnish Fish Atlas currently includes information on 31 fish that are considered to have trade value in Finland. Regulations concerning trade-value fish in Finland are decreed in the national Fishing Act and are mandated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Non-commercial fish species are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Environment.

The Atlas describes the characteristics of each of the fish species, together with information on their range, occurrence, nutrition, growth and reproduction. It also contains information on fishing in general, catch volumes, current management activities and potential threats to the fish stocks.

Scientist in charge of project

Marja-Liisa Koljonen
Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute
Viikinkaari 4, P.O. Box 2
FIN-00791 Helsinki, Finland
+358 205 751 315
e-mail: firstname.lastname@rktl.fi

Other research staff: Lauri Urho, Jussi Pennanen

Duration: continuous

Text version