A walk on our ’riverside’ today, here in my Helsinki city region Pitäjänmäki – Sockenbacka. Trout are back here, after ten years of diligent work since a leak from a paint factory killed all life in our Mätäjoki – Rutiån creek.
The trout is a highly endangered species here so it has been quite an achievement by the fishing and nature activists to create a conducive environment in this small river.
The government supports this work in many ways and sanctions for illegal fishing are heavy – it would cost 3,260 Euro plus fines to take up a trout from these waters. No wonder that people prefer the fish monger in the close by shopping center.
So a great day and I was especially happy to see also some old friends joining us, like my class mate from school Hans Lindqvist and a friend and colleague from our union years here in Finland, journalist Kari Arola.
The local association Pitäjänmäki-seura ( Sockenbacka-sällskapet in Swedish ) which I am president of will continue actively supporting these conservation efforts. We have a uniquely wonderful nature here just next to the city centre and want to take care of it. Helsinki (Helsingfors) is actually a great green city to live in.
