3.3.2025

Perusoikeuksien ja kansainvälisten ihmisoikeussopimusten vaikutus kalastuksen järjestämiseen Ylä-Lapissa

(Impact of fundamental and human rights on fishing arrangements in Northern Lapland)

The study examines the impact of fundamental and human rights on fishing rights and arrangements in Northern Lapland. Special attention is given to the salmon fishing ban based on the Teno River fishing agreement between Finland and Norway. The study makes an assessment of legal requirements under which the constitutional rights to property and freedom of occupation, and the Sámi people’s right to maintain and develop their own language and culture can be restricted to safeguard the constitutional right to environment, with a particular focus on fishing in Northern Lapland.

The regulation of fishing has been examined both from the perspective of national regulations and international obligations binding on Finland. These include international human rights treaties and international environmental and nature conservation agreements regulating fishing. The study also pays attention to the legal effects that the salmon fishing bans have had on the status and rights of various groups of persons engaged in fishing.

The authors of the study are MSocSc, LL.B Rakel Thörnroos and professor Elina Pirjatanniemi from the Åbo Akademi University Institute for Human Rights. The study was commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland. It is published in the research report series of the Institute for Human Rights.

Contact: professor Elina Pirjatanniemi (elina.pirjatanniemi@abo.fi)