Abstract
The Gulf of Finland is one of the most eutrophic areas in the Baltic Sea and is also the main fishing area for more than 150 000 recreational fishermen in Finland. The findings of a mail survey showed that the most important species for the recreational fishery is perch, Perca fluviatilis L. There is no clear evidence that eutrophication has had a harmful effect on the stocks of perch and other species considered important. Heavy fouling of gear, particularly gill nets, is the most acute problem caused by eutrophication to the local recreational fishery. The rapid fouling of passive gear was experienced by 67–86% of all fishermen in the three study areas. A general deterioration in water quality was perceived because only 2–14% of fishermen rated the water quality as excellent. However, a minority of recreational fishermen seem to have adapted or grown accustomed to the deterioration in water quality. Even in the two most eutrophic study areas, 23–31% of recreational fishermen considered that an improvement in local water quality would not benefit their own fishing in any way.