Beneficiaries and impacts of the programme

The total value of Atlantic salmon and sea trout releases is about 4.5 million euros per year. Enhanced profitability of stocking would benefit those parties that fund the releases and/or exploit the stocked fish.

The Finnish state finances Atlantic salmon stockings through FGFRI contract rearing to the tune of 600,000 – 750,000 euros per year. This means that society has defined the supporting of fishermen through fish releases as an income distribution goal. The better the success of releases, the more cost-effectively this support is distributed by society.

Stocking obligations of water power companies include annual salmon smolt releases worth 3.2 million euros per year. No specific catch goals have been defined for these releases, but the companies certainly benefit from the favourable publicity generated by good salmon catches.

Local communities like the cities of Helsinki and Espoo, and NGOs such as the Sea Trout Committees of the Gulf of Finland and the Archipelago Sea, are significant funders of sea trout stockings. Their aim is to increase trout fishing and catches and thereby increase the general attractiveness of their water areas. Profitability and good results ensure that releases are continued.

Many private fish hatcheries are dependent on the production of sea trout and salmon smolts. Low release profits may decrease the demand for smolts, and thus weaken the profitability of the companies. It is also in the companies’ interests to ensure that poorer release results are not caused by the decreased quality of the smolts released.

Profitable salmon and sea trout releases improve the conditions for professional salmon and trout fishing. Improvements in release results thus benefit professional fishermen and related interest groups.

Text version