Bio-diversity

The objective of the project is to minimize conflict between conservation needs of wintering water birds and economic interest of local fishermen community. Bird bycatch in fishing nets has been recognizes as an environmental problem in Lithuanian Baltic Sea Coastal Zone. The Lithuanian Ministry of Environment confirmed fishery regulations proposed during the first part of the project. The main effort of this part will be focused on finding and testing biotechnical measures minimizing bird bycatch in fishing gear. In addition to fishing impact to birds the effects of marine oil pollution on wintering birds will be analyzed as well, which is essential for the preparation of managements plans for the coastal NATURA 2000 sites. Education of local fishermen community is expected to result in more responsible altitudes towards nature and promote ideas of sustainable use of natural resources. The prepared recommendations will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment in order to be included into legislation s on inshore fishery, and fore coming regulations and management plans for NATURA 2000 territories. If effective measures of bird bycatch in fishing nets will be discovered during this project, the results could be adopted in other countries as well, since this environmental and social problem is common for he Baltic Sea and other areas.

Lithuania