Skip to content
Find your dream destination and buy a permit

Leasing of fishing waters

Metsähallitus leases out fishing rights to water areas under its control. The water area in question can be an individual pond or a section of a larger lake. The water areas are leased out to private individuals, companies, associations, joint ownership associations and even groups of fishing buddies. 

In addition to fishing, the lessee may even stock fish into the leased water area. However, it must be noted that fish stocking must be conducted using fish species and fish stocks officially approved for the area and in accordance with the fish transfer restrictions imposed by the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. According to the Fishing Act (74 §), stocking a water area with a new species requires a separate permit. 

A leased water area remains in your private use throughout the leasing period. This period can vary in length from one year to 10 years, which means fish stocking can be planned even on the long-term, if the lessee so chooses. 

Metsähallitus offers two different types of leases: full leasing of fishing rights and limited leasing of fishing rights.

Full leasing of fishing rights

The lessee is granted the right to rod and trap fish in the water area, but others may still hook and line fish and ice fish in the leased area free of charge. Others may also lure fish with one rod in the leased water area if they have paid the fisheries management fee. 

However, in this type of lease the lessee has the option to apply for a ban on hook and line fishing, ice fishing and lure fishing from the local ELY Centre (Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment), which prevents all fishing in the leased water area without the lessee's permission.

Limited leasing of fishing rights

The lessee is granted the right to rod and trap fishing in the water area, but others may still hook and line fish and ice fish free of charge in the leased area. Others may also lure fish with one rod in the leased water area if they have paid the fisheries management fee or lure fish with multiple rods if they have purchased Metsähallitus' fishing permit. This is the lease type offered in the water areas of Lapland. 

In this type of lease the lessee does not have the option to apply for a ban on hook and line fishing, ice fishing or lure fishing from the ELY Centre.

Further information and lease agreements

You can browse the water areas controlled by Metsähallitus at retkikartta.fi (choose map layer Fishing areas). If a water area catches your eye, contact Metsähallitus staff and they will tell you more about the water area and the terms of the lease agreement.