A Critical Insight into Fisheries Policies and Its Effects on Small-Scale Fisheries in Estonia

Abstract

This paper gives an overview of and examines the ways in which national and international policies and strategies regulating trade, labour, development and environmental matters have influenced small-scale or coastal fisheries in Estonia. The transition from the Soviet system to market economy in the 1990s had negative effects on small-scale fisheries in Estonia, which have been corrected only recently, after the country joined the European Union. Today, small-scale fisheries in Estonia are characterised by low incomes, dependence on external financial support, geographical mobility, ageing fisher population, the combining of income sources, and the rise of tourism. In conclusion, while there are still many serious difficulties in coastal fisheries and the economic importance of fisheries is declining, investments from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) are slowly, but steadily helping small-scale fishers to regain their footing.