Fishing in the Curonian Lagoon
Fishing in the Curonian Lagoon is an integral part of the unique identity of Lithuania's coastal region, shaping the local way of life, character, and even the cultural landscape. It remains a vital economic activity that closely ties coastal communities together while preserving essential connections to traditional fishing practices and processes that existed until the end of World War II.
Historically, fishing methods—whether active or passive—were adapted to the unique conditions of the lagoon. Techniques such as dragnet fishing, stationary net fishing, and trap fishing (using marine, smelt, or large-mesh traps) have long been influenced by water depth, currents, geological features of the lagoon bed and shores, seasonal changes, and fish behavior. Fishermen have traditionally used a variety of tools, including longlines, fish pots, stake nets, eel traps, spears, and more.
Today, only passive fishing methods are permitted in the Curonian Lagoon, and fishermen adhere to strict regulations for commercial inland fishing. A tradition that remains alive within the fishing community is the customary division of fishing grounds—through special gatherings, fishermen use a lottery system to allocate sections of the lagoon and its peninsulas. When weather conditions allow (forecasted by observing the sky, winds, and water), fishermen venture onto the lagoon for single-day fishing trips, catching pike-perch, perch, bream, eels, burbot, crucian carp, smelt, flounder, and other species. They use wooden boats, traditional "botai", and modern fishing vessels. The historic flat-bottomed sailing boats known as "kurėnai", which were widely used until the 1950s, have been restored and are now repurposed for cultural tourism.
Many fishermen and their family members possess expertise in preparing and preserving fish—nearly every local has their own recipes for fish soup, marinating, frying, salting, drying, or smoking fish. During popular events held on the Curonian Spit, such as "Stintapūkis", "Žiobrinės", old crafts festivals, and folklore festivals, fishermen demonstrate traditional fishing tool-making and net-weaving techniques while sharing their knowledge with festivalgoers. Food enterprises also showcase various fish-processing methods and traditional dishes.
Independent fishermen and companies engaged in fishing, fish processing, and distribution have organized into associations on both the western and eastern shores of the lagoon. They play a key role in preserving this essential source of livelihood for coastal communities, fostering local business development, and contributing to cultural tourism and recreation in the region.
Submission by: Neringa Municipality Budgetary Institution "Neringa Museums", "Neringa Local Action Group for Fisheries Association "Vidmarės", Fisheries Companies Association "Lampetra"
Tradition Bearers: Fishermen with fishing quotas in the Curonian Lagoon, their families, communities of Neringa, Klaipėda City, Klaipėda and Šilutė District Municipalities, and cultural institutions of the coastal region
Certificate No. NKPVS-70