The Fisheries Service has received requests from 12 fishing companies and individuals fishing in the Curonian Lagoon and some lakes to cancel their fishing quota rights and to deregister all their fishing vessels from the list of inland fishing vessels. They will be paid almost €3 million for leaving the fishing business.

„The exit payments will enable former commercial fishing enterprises to change their activities. They will be able to continue to successfully provide tourism services or engage in activities related to recreational fishing," said Kęstutis Šetkus, Deputy Minister for the Environment.

Amendments to the Fisheries Law adopted last year stipulate that a fishing company that has received payments must withdraw from the fishing business in all water bodies and must never again apply for fishing quotas. Fishing quotas from withdrawn enterprises cannot be distributed to other fishing enterprises.

Exit payments for fishing will continue to be paid for the next two years. In 2025, €2 million will be paid, in 2026 €1 million. In 2026, 80% of the estimated amount of payments will be paid. In case of an increase in the estimated need for payments, there is a possibility of applying to the European Commission for the possibility of allocating additional funds for this measure.

According to the indicators set out in the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, in the Curonian Lagoon the fish community abundance index, which indicates the abundance of predatory fish, and the fish community size index, which indicates the abundance of large fish, do not meet the criterion of good environmental status. Fishing has an impact on both of these indicators.

Reducing the intensity of commercial fishing will improve the status of fish stocks and make recreational fishing more attractive.