Fishing has been an important source of livelihood for people living in coastal Estonia. Estonian waters are home to about 75 species of fish, most of whom are freshwater fish.
There are more than 30,000 species of fish in the world. Estonian waters are home to about 75 species of fish, most of whom are freshwater fish, semidiadromous (ide, vimba bream) or diadromous fish (salmon, sea trout, eel). Estonian coastal water is inhabited by about 30 marine fish species, but since Estonian coastline is surrounded by brackish water, several freshwater fish species can also be found there.
Fishing has been an important source of livelihood for people living in coastal Estonia. European sprat and Baltic herring have always been a part of the Estonian diet. Rainbow trout from fish farms has shown up more recently. Fish caught in Estonian waters and processed here reaches also the tables of people living in other countries.