Fishing regulations

The oldest fishing regulations in Upper Austria

Fishing is the oldest profession on Traunsee and so it is not surprising that the oldest fishing regulations in Upper Austria come from Altmünster. Although these fishing regulations from 1418 only refer to the so-called Lower Traun, i.e. the waterway between Stadln and Lambach and the confluence of the river with the Danube, they are of general significance for fishing.

One clear rule at that time: the right to fish is a purely real right, i.e. they are based on the ownership of corresponding riparian areas. If you are the owner of a plot of land that is located on a shore or bank, you as landowner also have the right to fish there.

With one exception, however, which probably comes from the ancient sovereign right. In addition to the geographical fishing right is the sovereign fishing right, which states that emperors or princes and their relatives are not subject to the real restrictions and may fish at will.

Of course, secular or ecclesiastical landowners do not do the fishing or selling of the catch themselves. But since they do not want to assign their own household servants this task, they entrust their tenants to fish along the shore or bank in question.

These Grundholde or tenants receive a portion of the catch, which normally exceeds the amount they consume. This not only binds the tenants to their employers financially but gives them a personal incentive to supervise and maintain the fishing waters.

The medieval term for the right to fish is "Fischwaid". This is enjoyed by full-time fishermen or “Ferter" on assigned sections of a bank or shore. These sections are also referred to as “Fischwaid” or “Ferte”. The fishermen work in pairs and are represented by a fishing master.

Today, of course, there are clear guidelines and Austrian state laws that ensure that the fishing carried out in domestic lakes is sustainable. There are special guidelines for the nets, since in modern fishing, the correct net plays a crucial role in the preservation of ecosystems. In the past, any net was allowed, but now not only the type of net but the type of mesh is clearly prescribed. In addition, trawling is prohibited from October 15 to December 15 and a maximum of one boat may be used per fishing license.