Klaipeda-city FLAG

The Klaipėda City FLAG is conveniently located near both the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon and includes part of the Curonian Spit National Park, the Swamp Back Island in the Curonian Lagoon and the Smiltynė Straight which connects the lagoon to the Black Sea. Klaipėda is the third largest city in Lithuania and is home to the country’s only port, the northernmost ice-free port on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea.

The natural resources of the area enable the residents of Klaipėda to engage in fishing and aquaculture activities, activities which are rooted in the area’s cultural heritage. In total, 20 species have been identified in the area’s waters, five of which are protected (river lamprey, trout, bitterling and the sunfish).

Recently, fishing activities in Klaipėda have experienced economic and social difficulties due to a reduction in fishing capacities and the implementation of a resource conservation policies, presenting a substantial challenge to the region. Another main challenge is a generational lack of interest in fishing and the fisheries industry; the area’s fishing community is getting smaller. Klaipėda is widely visited by both Lithuanian and foreign holidaymakers, however, a tourism infrastructure is required to fully exploit the sectors potential.