HOME Foreword History Off-shore Fishery Coastal Fishery Inland Waters Vendace All the Year round In Lake Päijänne Future Statistics

After a severe decline in the vendace stocks at the beginning of the 1990s there is now a general phase of recovery in the vendace stocks. Increased catches and a steady demand have made vendace fishing profitable, especially in the central lakes of the larger water systems. The better conditions are also due to the improved state of the environment, manifesting as cleaner water in Lake Päijänne, for example. Vendace trawling was introduced in Lake Päijänne at the beginning of the 1980s, and after a few years the number of trawling gangs was five. The following decade doubled the number. As a result of good catches, trawls replaced seines as the major gear among the commercial fishermen. In some areas this new method restored fishing once more as a source of livelihood after a pause of several decades. Vendace dominated as target species at first, but since the beginning of 1990s the share of whitefish in the total sales has increased, with perch and roach also contributing to the good results. It has been confirmed that effective trawling has increased the growth of natural stocks of migrating whitefish in Lake Päijänne. Trawling on a lake differs little from trawling at sea, only the vessels are smaller and less effective. The gear is light and the latest technology is used where possible. The economical use of energy in trawling on the lakes in Finland is among the record achievements in the world. The objective of the operation is to guarantee the best possible quality and producer price by making short fishing trips and prompt deliveries of fresh fish to the consumers in the nearby communities. The operation costs of the vessels and gear have to be in a correct proportion to the catches. In summer the importance of an unbroken cold chain is emphasized. The natural conditions on a lake do not effect fishing as much as they do at sea. The fishing season lasts as long as the waters are open. Fishing is carried on through the night and sometimes fish are caught, sometimes not. In many places the uninterrupted sound of a diesel motor carried from the lake has become part of the atmosphere in summer evenings.