Fishing with a winter seine on Lake Inari, northern Finland on 11 January. Photo: Erno Salonen.
Recently published research article examines the effects of climate change on commercial fishing on Lake Inari and how fishers are adapting to changing conditions.
Research article, published in the international peer-reviewed journal Regional Environmental Change, describes the changing environment for commercial fishing on Lake Inari and examines the coping strategies of fishers in the face of changing conditions.
For this study, commercial fishers in the region of Inari were interviewed and their empirical, local knowledge was combined with long-term meteorological and hydrological observations from the area. The monitoring data and experiences of local fishers tell a similar story.
“The early winter period when freezing of the lake has started, but ice cover is not yet strong enough to carry the fisher and their gear, is a difficult time for commercial fishers. It means lost working time and no income," says university researcher Minna Turunen.
In mid-winter, climate change is reflected as fewer very cold weather periods lasting up to weeks. On the other hand, also very mild periods in mid-winter pose challenges to fishing: The ice cover may become thinner or there may be water between the ice layers, for example.
“Snow, water and slush make it difficult to move and work, and problematic ice conditions also increase the risk of accidents”, says Minna Turunen.
How do fishers adapt to changes?
Both fishers’ experience-based knowledge and long-term monitoring data show that the winter fishing season on Lake Inari has shortened and the open water season has lengthened. The adaptation strategies of commercial fishers on Lake Inari to the perceived and expected risks vary.
Most of the means used are reactive adaptation, i.e. coping with difficult conditions. On the other hand, there are signs of longer-term planned, proactive adaptation as well. Fishers’ responses to reduce risks and cope with future uncertainty were achieved through diversifcation, flexibility, innovation, and mobility.
The study identified four long-term adaptation strategies among fishers, differing in terms of catch species, investment, risk levels and sustainability. Some fishers clearly used a specific adaptation strategy, while others had features of several strategies or changed strategy depending on the situation.
In the dominant whitefish strategy fishers aim to catch the species most in demand as efficiently as possible. The risk is that fishing pressure on declining whitefish stocks is ecologically unsustainable. In addition, focusing on whitefish fishing may be a risky strategy for fishers who have made expensive investments in gear and equipment.
In the pike and perch strategy fishing is focused on catching spring-feeding species that are rapidly increasing in abundance as a result of climate change. Under this strategy, the risk of ecological unsustainability is reduced as perch and pike stocks are renewed by rapidly warming and lengthening growing seasons.
The multispecies strategy involves fishing for fish stocks using a variety of methods. Such an overall strategy does not necessarily require large investments. The risk of ecological unsustainability is reduced because fishing pressure is low, targeting a wide range of species and locations.
The fishing tourism strategy is based on catching several species of fish and providing experiences. The production of fishing trips requires a range of investments, planning and preparedness. The risks for fishing tourism relate to a reduction in the number of tourists as a result of an unexpected event.

Winter seine is lifted by commercial fishers on Lake Inari in the beginning of February, when it is almost -30C. Photo: Erno Salonen.
Will adaptation lead to sustainable fishing?
Fishers have adapted to a changing environment through the strategies described above. In addition, working practices are being adapted on a day-to-day basis to cope better with a rapidly changing climate.
Researchers say that sustainable adaptation in the industry requires planning, more cooperation and support. Best practices should be shared between fishers on different lakes, a more participatory approach to livelihood development is needed, and monitoring of changing conditions needs to be improved.
Weather observations and hydrological data have been collected on Lake Inari for several decades. Time series of ice conditions go back over a hundred years. This valuable data should be used more in research, particularly in combination with local practitioners’ data.
“Among other things, observation and data co-production should be developed, especially in relation to winter conditions; winter fishers have the best information, for example, on the variability of ice cover, ice structure and snow cover on the ice," says
Sirpa Rasmus.
Research article:
Turunen, M., Rasmus, S., Montonen, M., Salonen E, Lehtonen I 2025. Sustainable Adaptation of Commercial Inland Fishing? – Lessons Learnt from Subarctic Lake Inari, Finland. Regional Environmental Change 25, 17
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-024-02357-7
Contact persons:
Minna Turunen, University researcher, Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland, minna.turunen(at)ulapland.fi, 040 539 1182 (0405096134)
Sirpa Rasmus, University researcher, Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland, sirpa.rasmus(at)ulapland.fi, 040 4844358
Erno Salonen, researcher, RKTL/LUKE Inari, salonen.erno(at)gmail.com, 0400896532