The Nature of the Arghipelago
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The nature of the Archipelago
There are extreme conditions in the nature of the Archipelago and the regeneration is slow. It is vulnerable the same way the ekosystems of the tundra. Even though there are green groves of oak and hazel in the Archipelago, the nature of the outer islets is just as barren as the the domes of the fells in Lappland.
Making a fire is not an everyman´s right, and is allowed only with the landowners permission. The best way to make coffee is to use a camping cooker. In the Archipelago there are places marked especially for making a fire for e.g. grilling sausages. Damaging live tree while foraging for wood is strictly forbidden.
On the Åland Islands it is forbidden to fish from the shore between April the 15th and June the 15th. This is to secure undisturbed nesting for the aquatic birds and the rearing of young birds. In the Archipelago of the Finnish mainland there is no such official prohibition but the people there abide by this kind of rule by common consent so that the birds are guaranteed to have peace for the time of their nesting period. This is a habit, which everyone moving in the Archipelago should respect. The Fishing Law states that spinning is not allowed within 50 metre´s radius from any static fishing tackle. Even though the law does not state any specific distance from an inhabited shoreline or quays, it is a common habit not to disturb the inhabitants on their shore.
The local inhabitants live in the nature round the year, know their environment and have learned to respect it through the generations. As sportfishermen we have to remember that we are their guests in the Archipelago. Let´s see to it, that we are wellcome visitors.