Preface

Finnish fisheries research has a long history. The first studies on fish and fisheries were conducted the late 1700s and by the end of the 1800s concepts of the factors influencing fish stocks were already rather similar to present ones. By the early 1900s large numbers of fisheries studies were being carried out in both inland waters and the marine area. The need to promote research activities was growing. On 17 November 1923, 75 years ago, an act was passed making it possible to start regular fisheries investigations in Finland. The Bureau of Fisheries Investigation was established in January 1924 and operated under the Board of Agriculture until 1971. The present Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, established in 1971, has continued the work of the Bureau of Fisheries Investigation. This volume of the Boreal Environment Research (BER) was compiled to mark the 75th anniversary of Finnish fisheries research. The aim is to give an idea of the kind of fisheries research our institute is currently engaged in. It does not cover the whole field of research but merely gives some examples of ongoing research activities. Our research projects tend increasinly to be joint projects with other institutes and with universities in Finland and abroad. On behalf of the Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, I have the pleasure to thank all the authors as well as the editorial staff of the BER for their efforts in compilation of this volume.