Legal framework:

• Nature Conservation Act – core biodiversity law:
  • prohibits intentional killing of protected species and restricts harming/gathering of protected plants/fungi)
  • defines and prohibits “transactions” (sale, offer for sale, transport for sale, etc.) in specimens of protected categories I–III (with limited exceptions) 
  • links domestic enforcement to EU wildlife trade rules
• Hunting Act – sustainable harvest + monitoring/quotas: requires wild game monitoring, annual monitoring reports, and quotas set on that basis. 
• Fishing Act – licensing, fishing opportunities, and EU-control alignment; includes mechanisms tied to serious infringements under EU fisheries control rules In fisheries, Estonia’s national fisheries policy is designed and implemented in the EU Common Fisheries Policy context, explicitly covering use and protection of fishery resources, including spawning grounds and habitats. 
• Infectious Animal Disease Control Act + Veterinary Act + Food Act – the “safety” and spillover-risk side: disease control rules/programmes, zoonoses framing, and official controls/food safety obligations. 

Trade-specific frameworks (especially relevant to “legal trade”)

• CITES / EU Wildlife Trade Regulations apply in Estonia (as an EU Member State). The EU frames wildlife trade rules as ensuring wildlife products enter the EU market only if of legal (and sustainable) origin, with enforcement at Member State level. 

 Main national policy measures :

A. Sustainable harvesting (avoid overexploitation; ecosystem approach)

1. Science/monitoring-based quotas and adaptive management (hunting). Quotas are agreed and established on the basis of annual monitoring report. If monitoring indicates conservation risk, the Hunting Act triggers preparation of an action plan.
2. Licensing + fishing opportunities (fisheries) under national law + EU common fisheries policy. Fishing Act defines fishing scope and authorisations; fishing opportunities are set after EU opportunities are established. Fisheries policy explicitly includes protection and recovery of spawning grounds and habitats.
3. Protected areas/zoning + permit-based controls for sensitive sites. In protected areas, permits/consents may be required for hunting, fishing, and certain gathering activities, strict protection areas are usually closed for such activities.

B. Legal harvesting and legal trade (anti-illegal; enforcement; traceability)

4. General prohibition of commercial transactions in protected specimens (domestic wildlife). Nature Conservation Act defines “transaction with a specimen” broadly (purchase/sale/offer/transport for sale, etc.) and prohibits transactions in protected categories I–III.
5. CITES / EU wildlife trade permitting + border controls. Estonia applies EU wildlife trade regulations implementing CITES. 
6. Fisheries compliance tools (legal catch and control). Fishing Act includes compliance consequences linked to serious infringements under EU fisheries control rules (e.g., licence suspension).

C. Safety and pathogen spillover risk reduction

7. National infectious disease control programmes + surveillance/testing (incl. zoonoses). Agriculture and Food Board programmes include vaccination/testing plans; explicitly includes zoonoses (e.g., trichinellosis) and monitoring of diseases like bird flu and swine fevers.
8. Food safety and hygiene enforcement for wildlife-derived foods. Food Act establishes state supervision and operator responsibilities for food safety. Veterinary Act ties key definitions/controls to EU hygiene/animal health regulations (incl. zoonoses).

D. Participation 

Co-management structures include landowners and local stakeholders (hunters). Sub-national hunting boards involve landowners, hunters and the state representatives and agree practical annual harvest structure.