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Permits for fishing in non-leased state water bodies will only be available on the Internet via the online Information System of Environmental Permits. According to Vilmantas Graiciunas, the head of the Natural Resources Division of the Nature Protection Department of the Ministry of Environment, this system will be presented to the public in March, reports LETA/ELTA.

In future amateur fishermen will also be able to acquire permits via SMS. Such a possibility will be provided upon the completion of lengthy public procurement procedures for services. Thus, there will be no more paper permits for fishing in non-leased state water bodies.

Permits for fishing in leased water bodies will be available in two ways: either electronically or in paper form directly from the user of a fishing area. Any person using electronic banking will be able to acquire a permit electronically. Those unable to acquire permits electronically will have an opportunity to buy them from fishing tackle shops providing such services or other distributors of fishing permits.

Up until the entry into force of the new procedure on 30 March, the permits had been available from Regional Environmental Protection Departments of the Ministry of Environment, fishing tackle shops or other permit distributors.

Not only the procedure for issuing fishing permits but also the prices of the permits changed from 30 March. They had not been increased in for almost twenty years and were several times lower than in other EU member states. Amateur fishermen will pay LTL 50 (EUR 14.5) for annual permits, LTL 20 (EUR 5.8) for monthly permits and LTL 5 (EUR 1.45) for two-day permits for fishing in non-leased state water bodies. However, these permits will not grant the right to fish in leased state and private water bodies. The prices of permits for fishing in leased water bodies will be determined by the users of the water bodies, but the prices may not exceed LTL 50 (EUR 14.5) for an annual permit, LTL 20 (EUR 5.8) for a monthly permit and LTL 5 (EUR 1.45) for a two-day permit.

All funds received for permits for fishing in non-leased state water bodies will be collected into a special account and used for the only purpose of increasing and preserving fish stocks. Information on the use of these funds will be published on the website of the Ministry of Environment.

Children under 16 years of age, persons older than 62 years and disabled persons will have the right to fish free of charge. The users of fishing areas will also be able to grant the right to fish free of charge to other persons, such as local residents.