RECREATIONAL FISHERIES IN LITHUANIA Putting Lithuania on the Map of Recreational Fishing in Europe

RECREATIONAL FISHERIES IN LITHUANIAPutting Lithuania on the Map of Recreational Fishing in EuropeThe 4th World Recreational Fishing Conference Trondheim, Norway12-16 June, 2005

Algirdas Domarkas Egl RadaitytThe Union of Pisciculturists Lithuanian State Pisciculture Lithuania and Fisheries Research CentreLithuania

The goal of the presentation is to introduce the field of recreational fisheries in Lithuania, which has been going through dynamic changes in recent years.

The presentation will discuss:

Angling in Lithuania;

Social and Economic Value of Recreational Fishing (data collected from actual surveys: Attitudes Towards Fishing, Money Spent on Fishing and Non-Observance of Fishing Rules);

Future of Recreational Fisheries.

Angling in Lithuania

Angling has always been one of the most popular leisure pursuits in Lithuania. This is not surprising, as four percent (2,639 square km) of the countrys territory is covered by water and, in addition, there is the Baltic Sea coast and the Curonian Lagoon, which are popular fishing locations as well.

Picture 1. River Basins in Lithuania

Angling in Lithuania

However, there has always been the common misconception that the development of recreational fishing and the introduction of fishing tourism could have no positive effect to increase fish stocks and assist conservation.

Photo: T.Kolesinskas

It is only now after some research and the involvement of non-governmental organisations that the full potential can be seen.

Social and Economic Value of Recreational FishingAttitudes Towards Fishing

The survey Attitudes Towards Fishing was conducted by Vilmorus, a market research company, on behalf of the Alliance of Associations uvinink Rmai (The Chamber of Pisciculturists, NGO, Lithuania) in 2002. The finding was that approximately 1.5 million (or 55 percent) of Lithuanian citizens quite often take fishing rods and spend their leisure time by the rivers and lakes. Angling is well liked for 8 males out of 10 and 3-4 females out of 10.Picture 2. Percentage of fishing population. Picture 3. Fishing population by sex.

Social and Economic Value of Recreational Fishing The survey showed that recreational fishing was the most popular among people of between 18 and 30 years of age. This is characteristic to 7 out of 10 of survey participants. It is interesting to note, that the age of angling enthusiasts correlates with the hobby: with age increasing, the comparative weight of fishermen tends to go down.

Picture 4. Age indicators of fishing population (2002).

Consequently, fishing as a way of recreation can be linked with employable age: 2 out of 3 respondents of working age enjoy angling, while this type of recreation loses its attraction in the retirement age, with merely 1 out of 3 of surveyed pensioners taking their fishing rods and spending time by the rivers and lakes.

Chart2

0.7130.287

0.6530.347

0.640.36

0.5950.405

0.3510.649

Fishing population

Non-fishing population

2002

vejojani asmen rodiklis (N=1070, apklausti 18 m. ir vyresni)

vejojantys588

Nevejojantys482

vejojani asmen rodiklis pagal lyt

Vyrai78.36%

Moterys34.50%

vejojani asmen amiaus rodiklis (2002 m.)

vejojantysNevejojantys

18-29 m.71.3%28.7%

30-39 m.65.3%34.7%

40-49 m.64.0%36.0%

50-59 m.59.5%40.5%

60+ m.35.1%64.9%

I viso

18-29 m.10743150

30-39 m.13270202

40-49 m.12168189

50-59 m.10370173

60+ m.125231356

18-29 m.

30-39 m.

40-49 m.

50-59 m.

60+ m.

vejojantysNevejojantysI viso

Nebaigtas vidurinis39.78%60.22%

Vid. ir spec. vid.60.03%39.97%

Auktasis61.18%38.82%

109165274

374249623

10466170


iki 200 Lt61.07%38.93%

201-300 Lt43.73%56.27%

301-500 Lt52.44%47.56%

501+ Lt66.67%33.33%

182116298

129166295

161146307

9045135


Bedarbis67.86%32.14%

Nam eiminink47.37%52.63%

Pensininkas36.41%63.59%

Moksleivis, studentas67.50%32.50%

Specialistas (su auktuoju)64.36%35.64%

Tarnautojas (be auktojo)64.66%35.34%

Darbininkas70.05%29.95%

7636112

273057

146255401

271340

6536101

7541116

13156187


Kaimas53.37%46.63%

Kiti miestai53.06%46.94%

Kaunas, Klaipda, iauliai, Panevys54.55%45.45%

Vilnius61.99%38.01%

10665171

144120264

156138294

182159341

Fishing populationNon-fishing population

18-29 yrs71.3%28.7%

30-39 yrs65.3%34.7%

40-49 yrs64.0%36.0%

50-59 yrs59.5%40.5%

60+ yrs35.1%64.9%

2002

2003

18-29 m.

30-39 m.

40-49 m.

50-59 m.

60+ m.

2004

vejojantys

Nevejojantys

I viso

Nebaigtas vidurinis

Vid. ir spec. vid.

Auktasis

vejojantys

Nevejojantys

vejojantys

Nevejojantys

vejojantys

Nevejojantys

vejojantys

Nevejojantys

vejojantys

Nevejojantys

Fishing population


1-49 Lt32.22%58

50-99 Lt18.89%34

100-499 Lt42.78%77

500-999 Lt2.78%5

1000+ Lt3.33%6

1-50 Lt49.44%

51-100 Lt24.44%

101-500 Lt21.11%

501-1000 Lt3.89%

1001+Lt1.11%

89

44

38

7

2

Nevejoja81.96%

vejoja ir turi ilaid vejybai16.84%

vejoja, bet ilaidas apmoka kitas asmuo1.20%

vejoja ir turi ilaid vejybaivejoja, bet ilaidas apmoka kitas asmuo

Moterys3.95%1.03%

Vyrai31.86%1.40%

236

1597

vejoja ir turi ilaid vejybaivejoja, bet ilaidas apmoka kitas asmuoNevejoja

15-19 m.28.40%7.41%0.6419753086Nevejoja

20-29 m.21.71%0.78%0.775193798495.02%

30-39 m.22.62%0.00%0.773809523866.73%

40-49 m.19.19%1.52%0.7929292929553

50-59 m.19.33%2.00%0.7866666667333

60-74 m.8.51%0.00%0.914893617

75+ m.2.74%0.00%0.9726027397

52236

100281

13038

157383

118293

25824

712




Auktasis20.83%0.60%

405

1067

351


iki 200 Lt16.94%2.42%

201-300 Lt14.18%0.36%

301-500 Lt17.20%1.06%

501+ Lt20.25%1.27%

426

391

654

322

Bedarbis18.75%1.04%







181

61

291

245

19

123

522


Kaimas14.11%1.20%



Vilnius15.34%1.59%

474

603

463

293

Iki 50 Lt51-100 Lt101+ Lt

Vyrai53.80%22.78%23.42%

Moterys18.18%36.36%45.45%

853637

4810

Fishing population spending money on fishingFishing population who have fishing expenses covered by others

Women3.95%1.03%

Men31.86%1.40%


Moterys3.95%1.03%

Vyrai31.86%1.40%

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

000

000

Nevejoja

vejoja ir turi ilaid vejybai

vejoja, bet ilaidas apmoka kitas asmuo

00

00

00

00

00

00

00

#REF!


00

00

00



Isilavinimas

00

00

00

00



00

00

00

00

00

00

00



00

00

00

00



00

00

00

Vyrai

Moterys

00

00



00

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Fishing population spending money on fishing

Fishing population who have fishing expenses covered by others

00

00



vejojo be leidimSugavo didesn kiek nei leistinas

iki 29 m.18.24%4.40%

30-39 m.17.09%3.80%

40-49 m.10.77%2.56%

50-59 m.9.60%3.95%

60+ m.3.48%0.32%

291597159

271586158

211955195

171777177

113161316


iki 200 Lt16.00%4.00%

201-300 Lt6.93%2.97%

301-500 Lt6.95%1.60%

501+ Lt15.66%2.41%

362259225

142026202

263746374

261664166


Bedarbis16.47%5.88%




Specialistas6.60%1.89%

Tarnautojas12.84%2.75%


1485585

25757

103361336

1047247

71062106

141093109

3719610196

vejojo be leidim

Sugavo didesn kiek nei leistinas

vejojo be leidim


Social and Economic Value of Recreational FishingAttitudes Towards Fishing

Speaking about financial conditions of living, they are related with fisheries in several different ways: 6 out of 10 persons with low income (up to 200 Litas per household member or approximately 58 Euros) seek financial benefit, i.e., a source of income, rather than relaxation in angling.

Picture 5. Income indicators of fishing population (2002).

Increasing income changes motivation of angling considerably.

Chart3

0.61070.3893

0.43730.5627

0.52440.4756

0.66670.3333

Fishing population


2002

vejojani asmen rodiklis (N=1070, apklausti 18 m. ir vyresni)

vejojantys588

Nevejojantys482

vejojani asmen rodiklis pagal lyt

Vyrai78.36%

Moterys34.50%

vejojani asmen amiaus rodiklis (2002 m.)

vejojantysNevejojantys

18-29 m.71.3%28.7%

30-39 m.65.3%34.7%

40-49 m.64.0%36.0%

50-59 m.59.5%40.5%

60+ m.35.1%64.9%

I viso

18-29 m.10743150

30-39 m.13270202

40-49 m.12168189

50-59 m.10370173

60+ m.125231356

18-29 m.

30-39 m.

40-49 m.

50-59 m.

60+ m.




Auktasis61.18%38.82%

109165274

374249623

10466170


iki 200 Lt61.07%38.93%

201-300 Lt43.73%56.27%

301-500 Lt52.44%47.56%

501+ Lt66.67%33.33%

182116298

129166295

161146307

9045135


Bedarbis67.86%32.14%







7636112

273057

146255401

271340

6536101

7541116

13156187


Kaimas53.37%46.63%



Vilnius61.99%38.01%

10665171

144120264

156138294

182159341


18-29 yrs71.3%28.7%

30-39 yrs65.3%34.7%

40-49 yrs64.0%36.0%

50-59 yrs59.5%40.5%

60+ yrs35.1%64.9%


Under 200 LTL ~58 EUR61.07%38.93%

201-300 LTL ~58-89 EUR43.73%56.27%

301-500 LTL ~89-145 EUR52.44%47.56%

501+ LTL ~145+ EUR66.67%33.33%

2002

2003

18-29 m.

30-39 m.

40-49 m.

50-59 m.

60+ m.

2004

vejojantys

Nevejojantys

I viso

Nebaigtas vidurinis

Vid. ir spec. vid.

Auktasis

vejojantys

Nevejojantys

vejojantys

Nevejojantys

vejojantys

Nevejojantys

vejojantys

Nevejojantys

vejojantys

Nevejojantys

Fishing population


1-49 Lt32.22%58

50-99 Lt18.89%34

100-499 Lt42.78%77

500-999 Lt2.78%5

1000+ Lt3.33%6

1-50 Lt49.44%

51-100 Lt24.44%

101-500 Lt21.11%

501-1000 Lt3.89%

1001+Lt1.11%

89

44

38

7

2

Nevejoja81.96%

vejoja ir turi ilaid vejybai16.84%

vejoja, bet ilaidas apmoka kitas asmuo1.20%


Moterys3.95%1.03%

Vyrai31.86%1.40%

236

1597

vejoja ir turi ilaid vejybaivejoja, bet ilaidas apmoka kitas asmuoNevejoja

15-19 m.28.40%7.41%0.6419753086Nevejoja

20-29 m.21.71%0.78%0.775193798495.02%

30-39 m.22.62%0.00%0.773809523866.73%

40-49 m.19.19%1.52%0.7929292929553

50-59 m.19.33%2.00%0.7866666667333

60-74 m.8.51%0.00%0.914893617

75+ m.2.74%0.00%0.9726027397

52236

100281

13038

157383

118293

25824

712




Auktasis20.83%0.60%

405

1067

351


iki 200 Lt16.94%2.42%

201-300 Lt14.18%0.36%

301-500 Lt17.20%1.06%

501+ Lt20.25%1.27%

426

391

654

322

Bedarbis18.75%1.04%







181

61

291

245

19

123

522


Kaimas14.11%1.20%



Vilnius15.34%1.59%

474

603

463

293

Iki 50 Lt51-100 Lt101+ Lt

Vyrai53.80%22.78%23.42%

Moterys18.18%36.36%45.45%

853637

4810

Fishing population spending money on fishingFishing population who have fishing expenses covered by others

Women3.95%1.03%

Men31.86%1.40%


Moterys3.95%1.03%

Vyrai31.86%1.40%

61.07%

43.73%

52.44%

66.67%

38.93%

56.27%

47.56%

33.33%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

201-300 LTL~58-89 EUR

301-500 LTL~89-145 EUR

501+ LTL~145+ EUR

Fishing population


Under 200 LTL~58 EUR

Fishing population


0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

000

000

Nevejoja



00

00

00

00

00

00

00

#REF!


00

00

00



Isilavinimas

00

00

00

00



00

00

00

00

00

00

00



00

00

00

00



00

00

00

Vyrai

Moterys

00

00



00

00

Fishing population spending money on fishing

Fishing population who have fishing expenses covered by others

00

00




iki 29 m.18.24%4.40%

30-39 m.17.09%3.80%

40-49 m.10.77%2.56%

50-59 m.9.60%3.95%

60+ m.3.48%0.32%

291597159

271586158

211955195

171777177

113161316


iki 200 Lt16.00%4.00%

201-300 Lt6.93%2.97%

301-500 Lt6.95%1.60%

501+ Lt15.66%2.41%

362259225

142026202

263746374

261664166


Bedarbis16.47%5.88%




Specialistas6.60%1.89%

Tarnautojas12.84%2.75%


1485585

25757

103361336

1047247

71062106

141093109

3719610196

vejojo be leidim


vejojo be leidim


Social and Economic Value of Recreational FishingMoney Spent on Fishing

The survey Money Spent on Fishing carried out in 2003 showed that one angler in Lithuania spent an average of 140 Litas (approximately 40.5 Euros) on angling needs per surveyed year.

Picture 6. Distribution of fishing expenses by sex (2003).

Without any doubt, men spend money on fishing needs more often (or they get more fishing rods as gifts) than women do. Some 33.3 percent of men and merely 5.0 percent of women spend money on fishing.


Young people tend to spend money on their fishing needs more often, with the indicator reaching 29 percent in the age group of 15-19 years. Persons of 75 and more years of age have least angling-related expenses. Picture 7. Distribution of fishing expenses by age (2003).


By income per member of a household, the highest percentage of persons having fishing expenses was in the group with over 500 Litas of income per month (21.6 percent) and among those with under 200 Litas of monthly income (19.3 percent).

Picture 8. Income indicators of fishing population (2003).

Social and Economic Value of Recreational FishingNon-Observance of Fishing Rules

Meanwhile, the main barrier for the development of recreational fisheries still is illegal fishing, which mostly affects the fish stocks of small water bodies.

The survey Non-Observance of Fishing Rules conducted in 2004 indicates that Lithuanian citizens had severely breached fishing regulations on up to 0.7 million occasions per year.

According to the results of the survey, fishing regulations were violated on ~4.86 million occasions over the year. The survey cannot be considered as highly precise. Sociologists have noted years ago that people tend to lie when asked about disgraceful issues. If an activity is seen as not fully acceptable, respondents are likely to varnish such data. Poaching is not listed as a virtue, so the actual figures referring to violations of fishing regulations may be even bigger.

Social and Economic Value of Recreational Fishing As a rule, young people under the age of 29, especially pupils and students, are more likely to breach fishing rules than the older population. This implies that failure to take efficient measures might lead to yet higher number of violations in the sector. Picture 10. Age indicators of fishing population who have breached fishing rules (2004).

According to the data published in Lithuanian media, environmental agencies solved 4,462 violations of fishing rules in 2003 and imposed fines of 183 Litas (approx 53 Euros) on an average. A comparison of the surveys data with results provided by fisheries agencies, merely 1 or 0.1 percent of 1,000 violations of fisheries regulations are solved in the country.

Future of Recreational FisheriesAll the above-mentioned figures indicate that the current polarisation of freshwater fisheries towards small-sized commercial fishing has no future and might doom anglers to years of poverty.

One of the ways out is the redirection of the industry branch towards recreational fisheries and fishing tourism.

In a number of countries, the branch of industry is listed as state priority and granted relevant funding, mainly due to altered public interest and an enormous economic effect.

The increase in the popularity of angling makes possible the development of an entire specialised infrastructure.

Future of Recreational FisheriesLithuanian State Pisciculture and Fisheries Research Centre breeds many fish, however, raises no specific objects for recreational fishing (grayling, brown trout, etc.) because the institutions bylaws still stipulate it should restore fish with commercial value.

Insufficient pisciculture and fish-protection efforts have led to impoverished stock of fish in most water bodies, which, as a result, lost their appeal to anglers. All these reasons are main factors hindering the development of recreational fisheries market.

Future of Recreational FisheriesThe collected data convinced the governmental institutions to pay attention to those problems as well. The Law on Amateur Fishing was approved in 2004.

It should be noted that recreational fishing has priority against commercial fishing, as emphasized in the law.

To evaluate and develop regulations on angling, there was a Board of Amateur Fishing Development established from governmental and non-governmental organisations.

These steps are expected to form a new perspective for the development of recreational fisheries in Lithuania.

Thank you for your attention!Photo: ArtrasNo scale nor tale for you!

Results of any survey conducted to date have not yet been presented on the international level, therefore, the presentation mainly focuses on the outcomes of surveys carried out during the past years and interpretation of the data.

The main finding of the survey conducted in year 2002 was that approximately 55 percent of Lithuanian citizens quite often take fishing rods and spend their leisure time by the rivers and lakes.

Next slides will show some indicators from the survey

The survey Money Spent on Fishing carried out in 2003 showed that one Lithuanian angler spent an average of approx 40.5 Euros on angling needs per surveyed year.

According to the above-mentioned survey, it was estimated that 0.5 million Lithuanian citizens spend approximately 21 million Euros per year for angling. Are those findings surprising?

This can be estimated based on a comparison with other fields of fisheries.

There are about 20 large aquaculture companies in Lithuania, producing 9-10 million Litas worth of fish annually. The estimated cost of production is seven times lower than the anglers spending.

More than 100 companies fish in the Curonian Lagoon, rivers, lakes and other water bodies with the help of commercial fishing gear. They catch approximately 3-3,5 million Litas worth of fish per year, which is ~24 times less than spent by Lithuanian anglers.

Approximately the same amount of smaller or bigger companies fish in the Baltic Sea. They catch approximately 24-25 million Litas worth of fish per year, which is 3 times less than spent by Lithuanian anglers.

And yet the income of all commercial fishers working in aquaculture, inland waters and the Baltic Sea put together still amounts to merely half of the money circulating in recreational fisheries.

The angling-related field has enormous growth potential about 1.5 million Lithuanian people go angling at least once in a while, according to the 2002 survey. The main obstacles for them to become regular anglers are, among other factors, poor economic situation and inadequate fishing conditions. Improvement of these factors is expected to lead to a rise in the number of anglers and their spending on fishing needs.

- Next slide overview-

Meanwhile, the main barrier for the development of recreational fisheries still is illegal fishing, which mostly affects the fish stocks of small water bodies.

The survey Non-Observance of Fishing Rules conducted in 2004 indicates that Lithuanian citizens had severely breached fishing regulations on up to 0,7 million occasions per year.

According to the results of the survey, fishing regulations were violated on ~4,86 million occasions over the year.

The survey cannot be considered as highly precise. Sociologists have noted years ago that people tend to lie when asked about disgraceful issues. If an activity is seen as not fully acceptable, respondents are likely to varnish such data. Poaching is not listed as a virtue, so the actual figures referring to violations of fishing regulations may be even bigger.

All the above-mentioned figures indicate that the current polarisation of freshwater fisheries towards small-sized commercial fishing has no future and might doom anglers to years of poverty.

One of the ways out is the redirection of the industry branch towards recreational fisheries and fishing tourism. Many people in Lithuania relate their leisure time with angling, at least to a certain extent. In a number of countries, the branch of industry is listed as state priority and granted relevant funding, mainly due to altered public interest and an enormous economic effect. The increase in the popularity of angling makes possible the development of an entire specialised infrastructure.

In Lithuania, changes in the situation are rather slow, with virtually all financial assistance from the state going to commercial fisheries and pond pisciculture. Approximately 10-12 million Litas (approximately 2.9-3.5 million Euros) are available for the purpose granted by the European Union. During the past 5 years, several million Litas have been allocated to pond pisciculture companies to assist them in dealing with diseases and after-effects of drought. Fish diseases and drought harms can be seen for anglers as well, however, angler organisations have so far received no financial aid for the purpose. They also have little possibilities to get support for the creation of ecological fisheries.

Lithuanian State Pisciculture and Fisheries Research Centre breeds many fish, however, raises no specific objects for recreational fishing (grayling, brown trout, etc.) because the institutions bylaws still stipulate it should restore fish with commercial value.

Insufficient pisciculture and fish-protection efforts have led to impoverished stock of fish in most water bodies, which, as a result, lost their appeal to anglers. All these reasons are main factors hindering the development of recreational fisheries market.

The collected data convinced the governmental institutions to pay attention to those problems as well. The Law on Amateur Fishing was approved in 2004.

It should be noted that recreational fishing has priority against commercial fishing, as emphasized in the law.

To evaluate and develop regulations on angling, there was a Board of Amateur Fishing Development established from governmental and non-governmental organisations.

These steps are expected to form a new perspective for the development of recreational fisheries in Lithuania.

So thank you for your patience! And if any of you would like to receive full version of the material please do not hesitate to contact me after the session.

Documents

RECREATIONAL FISHERIES IN LITHUANIA Putting Lithuania on the Map of Recreational Fishing in Europe