Across Finland’s thousands of lakes, familiar species like roach, bream and small perch are plentiful —but often overlooked. Despite being abundant, affordable and locally caught, they rarely make it onto the dinner table. Imported fish such as salmon and tuna continue to dominate Finnish menus, leaving many domestic species underappreciated and undervalued.
The EU-funded Smartfisk (Smart fish) project aims to change that not only by proving that local lake fish are as delicious, nutritious and sustainable as their imported rivals but also by supporting small-scale fishers and promoting environmentally responsible diets.
A fisher turned educator
Marie Kellgren, a lifelong fisher and passionate teacher, is the brains behind the initiative. After more than a decade working on the water, she saw both the challenges and the potential of Finland’s fishing communities. When she came across a call for interest in EU funding for fisheries projects, she realised she could combine her love for fishing with her skill for teaching and inspire a new generation to value local fish.
“I’ve seen how hard it is for small fishers to make a living, while our lakes are full of good fish no one eats,” she explains. “If we can show young people that these fish are delicious and sustainable, we can change habits and help our communities at the same time.”
Learning by cooking
Run by Finland’s Martha Foundation, a Swedish-speaking NGO, Smartfisk brings fish education directly into classrooms across southern Finland and Åland. Students aged 12 to 18 take part in hands-on workshops where they learn to handle, fillet and cook local fish. From roach burgers to perch cakes, the sessions are practical, fun and tasty. Teachers join in too, helping to further embed awareness of the rich diversity of local fish in school culture. Many schools now plan to include similar lessons in future home economics programmes.
Innovation meets appetite
The team quickly discovered that early engagement with schools was essential and that changing consumer habits takes persistence. The initial outreach took longer than expected, but the project nonetheless managed to reach 20 schools in the first year. Thanks to EU funding (European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund), Marie is able to work on the project full-time, which has allowed her to keep this hard-won momentum going, developing new teaching materials, travelling to schools and collaborating with local businesses.
Creativity in recipes, branding and partnerships has been key to the success. “People know salmon and tuna,” Marie says. “Our job is to show that the fish from your own lake can be just as good and even better for the planet.”
The project’s website now features more than 200 creative fish dishes showcasing local fish such as roach, bream and perch, while local restaurants and school canteens have also begun to feature these and other lesser-known species on their menus. Many new recipes are added each month, often inspired by feedback from their school sessions. Meanwhile, an innovative partnership with a local company in Lohja is producing pet food from fish parts that would otherwise go to waste, contributing to the sustainability of the local economy.
Cooperation across regions
The project is supported two Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) – the South Coast FLAG and Austrobotnian FLAG – which has helped it spread the message to a wider population. It has also laid the groundwork for new market opportunities across the regions and inspired other communities to explore similar initiatives for their own local products.
By giving a voice to local fishers, empowering youth and promoting sustainable diets, Smartfisk is helping Finland rediscover its lakes, one meal at a time.
More information
Project website
Social media
Details
- Publication date
- 27 November 2025
- Author
- Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
