About Fisheries Control

The Fisheries Service under the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania is responsible for fisheries monitoring and control in Lithuania. The institution performs the following functions:

• controls the implementation of the requirements of the European Union Common Fisheries Policy in the field of fisheries control in the Republic of Lithuania;
• controls compliance with EU and national legal acts regulating the use of fish resources on fishing vessels of the Republic of Lithuania operating in distant fishing areas;
• controls the landing and/or transhipment of fisheries products by third-country fishing vessels;
• monitors the activities of fishing vessels of the Republic of Lithuania using the satellite-based vessel monitoring system;
• manages and uses state fisheries data information systems, in which data on fishing activities are collected, verified and analysed, and submits such data to the EU and international organisations in accordance with the established requirements;
• controls compliance with EU and national legal acts regulating commercial and recreational fishing on fishing vessels operating in the territorial waters of the Republic of Lithuania in the Baltic Sea and in the exclusive economic zone;
• controls the landing, transhipment, transportation and first sale of fisheries products at Klaipėda State Seaport and at other fish landing and first-sale locations.

Fisheries control in the Baltic Sea is carried out using vessels of the Fisheries Service:

• the 15.00 m vessel Vakaris (vessel registration No. P-1019 in the Register of Inland Waterway Vessels of the Republic of Lithuania), intended for the control of fishing in the Baltic Sea;
• the sea boat Pioner (boat registration No. LT-P-923 in the Register of Inland Waterway Vessels of the Republic of Lithuania), intended for the control of fishing in the Baltic Sea coastal waters;
• the sea boat Dulkan (boat registration No. LT-19967 in the Register of Inland Waterway Vessels of the Republic of Lithuania), intended for the control of fishing in the Baltic Sea coastal waters.

The Fisheries Service implements the Lithuanian Fisheries Control Programme for 2021–2023, hereinafter referred to as the Programme. The Programme was prepared in accordance with Regulation (EU) No. 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, as amended; Regulation (EC) No. 791/2007; Regulation (EU) No. 1255/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council, as amended; Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/1930; Commission Implementing Decision No. 2014/464/EU of 15 July 2014 establishing Union priorities for enforcement and control policy related to the activities of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund; and Resolution No. 458 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of 28 April 2010 “On the Designation of Institutions Responsible for the Implementation of European Union Legal Acts Establishing the Procedure for the Import, Export and Re-Export of Fisheries Products”.

The Programme is financed from European Union financial support, hereinafter referred to as the EU, allocated in accordance with Articles 76, 94 and 95 of Regulation (EU) No. 508/2014, and from the state budget of the Republic of Lithuania. These funds are provided annually in the Fisheries Development and Competitiveness Programme approved by order of the Minister of Agriculture and are used in accordance with the rules for the implementation of the Lithuanian Fisheries Control Programme for 2021–2023.

The objective of the Programme is to ensure the implementation and effectiveness of fisheries control measures in the Republic of Lithuania in compliance with the rules of the EU Common Fisheries Policy.

The tasks of the Programme are to:

• strengthen and develop fisheries monitoring and control in Lithuania by implementing the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009, as amended, establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy; Regulation (EU) 2015/812 of the European Parliament and of the Council; and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 404/2011 of 8 April 2011, as amended, laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009;
• implement, within the scope of competence, the measures provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No. 1005/2008 of 29 September 2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, hereinafter referred to as IUU fishing, amending Regulations (EEC) No. 2847/93, (EC) No. 1936/2001 and (EC) No. 601/2004, as amended; Commission Regulation (EU) No. 202/2011; and Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1010/2009 of 22 October 2009, as amended, laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1005/2008;
• strengthen cooperation of the Fisheries Service in the field of fisheries monitoring and control with other EU Member States, stakeholders and other fisheries control authorities;
• increase the awareness of fishers, other stakeholders and the public of the implementation of the rules of the EU Common Fisheries Policy and of the need to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing;
• improve the administrative capacities of specialists of the Fisheries Service responsible for fisheries monitoring and control, as well as employees of the Customs Department performing the functions provided for in paragraph 2 of Resolution No. 458.