Fisheries Control Divisions

The Fisheries Service is the control authority responsible for supervising commercial, special and recreational fishing in the Baltic Sea, both offshore and in coastal waters. Inspectors of the Fisheries Service also monitor and control the activities of Lithuanian fishers in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and in other distant fishing areas.

By Order No. 3D-107 of the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania of 17 February 2022, the administrative structure of the Fisheries Service was amended and the Fisheries Control Department was established. The Department comprises the Fisheries Control in the Baltic Sea Division, the Fisheries Monitoring and Control Division, and the Fisheries Compliance Division.

FISHERIES CONTROL IN THE BALTIC SEA DIVISION

The main task of the Fisheries Control in the Baltic Sea Division of the Fisheries Control Department of the Fisheries Service is to carry out control and supervision of the implementation of the European Union Common Fisheries Policy, the Law on Fisheries of the Republic of Lithuania, the Law on Recreational Fishing of the Republic of Lithuania and other legal acts regulating fisheries.

This control is carried out in the territorial waters of the Republic of Lithuania in the Baltic Sea, in the exclusive economic zone, at designated places for the landing, first sale and purchase of fisheries products, in fisheries production and commercial enterprises, on fishing and transport vessels, and in vehicles.

Inspectors of the Fisheries Control in the Baltic Sea Division carry out fisheries control in the Baltic Sea, both offshore and in coastal waters, on a continuous basis, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Offshore fisheries control is carried out using the vessel Vakaris, while coastal fisheries control is carried out using the motor boat LT-P-923.

When inspecting vessels, fisheries control officers check whether the fishing gear used in commercial fishing complies with the applicable requirements and whether the data recorded in fishing logs correspond to the actual quantities of fish on board. They also monitor whether fishing is being carried out using illegal nets, namely nets that are prohibited at the relevant time or are not marked in accordance with the established procedure. In this way, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is combated.

FISHERIES MONITORING AND CONTROL DIVISION

The task of the Fisheries Monitoring and Control Division of the Fisheries Control Department is to ensure monitoring of the use of fish resources, as well as control and supervision in distant fishing areas and at Klaipėda Seaport during the transhipment and landing of fisheries products from European Union and third-country fishing vessels.

The Division also ensures the operation of the Fisheries Monitoring Centre, the compliance of Lithuanian fisheries information systems with the latest EU and national legal acts regulating monitoring and control in the fisheries sector, and performs actions related to the import, export and re-export procedures for fisheries products established by EU legal acts.

The Fisheries Service supervises the activities of fishing vessels of the Republic of Lithuania in waters regulated by regional fisheries management organisations, hereinafter referred to as RFMOs, and in the exclusive economic zones of foreign countries. It verifies and approves catch certificates, collects and summarises data on fishing activities of Lithuanian vessels in RFMO-regulated waters, foreign waters and other distant fishing areas, as well as data on fishing activities of third-country vessels in the waters of the Republic of Lithuania. In accordance with the established procedure, these data are submitted to interested EU, Lithuanian and foreign authorities, institutions and international organisations.

Fisheries control is carried out using advanced IT technologies. Officers of the Fisheries Service monitor vessels around the world around the clock on computer screens. Electronic fishing logbooks have been introduced in Lithuania. Data on fish caught and sold are received by the systems. Computer systems calculate numerous parameters related to fishing activities. The data are continuously cross-checked, and where discrepancies are identified, their causes are examined.

Inspectors of the Fisheries Service take part in missions 3–4 times per year, with each mission lasting up to one month. These missions are carried out in distant fishing areas under agreements with the EU. Usually, two EU Member States each send one inspector to such missions. The inspectors patrol designated areas and inspect EU vessels.

FISHERIES COMPLIANCE DIVISION

The main task of the Fisheries Compliance Division of the Fisheries Control Department is to ensure the implementation of requirements laid down in legal acts regulating the use of fish resources in the areas of monitoring, market regulation measures and other fisheries obligations.

The Division manages and maintains the fisheries data information system and supervises the activities of fishing vessels of the Republic of Lithuania through the relevant modules of the system.

Specialists of the Fisheries Compliance Division issue fishing vessel certificates and fishing permits for fishing vessels of the Republic of Lithuania, verify and approve electronic port State control forms, prepare and submit reports under the Data Collection Programme, implement the allocation of fishing opportunities assigned to Lithuania to economic operators engaged in fishing activities, and carry out accounting and control of fishing opportunities.

In addition to the above-mentioned functions related to the supervision of economic operators, specialists of the Fisheries Compliance Division also supervise the activities of fisheries producer organisations operating in the Republic of Lithuania.