Sustainability criteria for pikeperch fisheries: new modelling approaches and indicators to support fisheries management

A key challenge in managing inland and coastal fisheries is the lack of monitoring data, which makes it difficult to assess the economic or ecological sustainability of the fishing activities. This project develops tools and reference values based on the latest research, enabling the sustainability of commercial fishing to be evaluated and guided using transparent criteria.

As part of the project, individual data have been collected from a total of 263 pikeperch originating from Haukivesi, Höytiäinen, Orivesi, and Pyhäselkä. The detailed information is used to model growth rate, maturation, and muscle mass development, which enables us to assess the impacts and sustainability of fishing.

The more growth data on pikeperch that are available, the better. If fisheries management areas are interested, we are open to collaboration regarding the sharing and acquisition of pikeperch samples and growth data.

Part of the Fishing Development Program coordinated by the Natural Resources Insitute Finland.