On 16 December 2021, the Government has granted EUR 300,000 for Utsjoki to support the sustainable growth and vitality of the area. The funding granted to the Regional Council of Lapland is intended to manage the change in the local business community caused by the Utsjoki fishing ban and to promote coordination and sustainable business activity.
Finland and Norway have jointly made the exceptional decision to prohibit fishing temporarily on the River Tenojoki, covering the entire life cycle of the Tenojoki salmon from the sea to the river. The reason for the restriction is the rapidly deteriorating state of the River Tenojoki’s salmon stocks.
The decision aims to secure fishing opportunities and viable salmon stocks in the River Tenojoki in the future. The ban on salmon fishing will adversely affect the economy of the Tenojoki Valley. The tourism industry and joint owners of fishing waters, in particular, will suffer losses of income from tourism and fishing permits. Tourism in the region has been strongly built around fishing, and the restrictions will have significant indirect effects on fishing tourism. The employment effects of the exceptional situation will fall directly on tourism and service providers and indirectly on the municipality and other service providers. There is a strong cultural tradition of salmon fishing in the region and the effects of the changed situation cannot be assessed on economic grounds alone. The effects are local and will particularly impact the vitality of the municipality with its small population.
“Securing salmon stocks at a sustainable level is important. It is also essential to develop business and tourism in a sustainable way, both in the short and long term. New initiatives are also needed to revitalise local business activity and respond to the changed situation. The central government funding can be used to ensure regional coordination of measures and, for example, make analyses to promote the launch of new businesses,” says Minister Lintilä.
