Lithuania’s fishing industry, though relatively modest compared to some of its Baltic neighbors, plays an important role in the country’s economy and culture. The top fish catches in Lithuania primarily come from the Baltic Sea, the Curonian Lagoon, and inland waters, with sprat, herring, cod, smelt, and bream among the most significant species landed. Historically, fishing has been a vital livelihood for coastal communities, with records dating back to medieval times. During the Soviet era, the industry was modernized and expanded, but after independence, Lithuania’s fleet and catch volumes decreased and shifted focus towards sustainability and EU regulations. Today, the Lithuanian fishing industry is characterized by a combination of small-scale coastal fisheries and a few larger commercial operations, with an emphasis on sustainable practices and value-added processing, particularly for sprat and herring, which are often exported or used in local delicacies.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chilean jack mackerel | 22,072 |
| 2 | Atlantic chub mackerel | 17,222 |
| 3 | Atlantic horse mackerel | 16,417 |
| 4 | Blue whiting(=Poutassou) | 13,150 |
| 5 | European sprat | 11,885 |
| 6 | Pacific chub mackerel | 10,307 |
| 7 | Northern prawn | 6,684 |
| 8 | European pilchard(=Sardine) | 1,922 |
| 9 | Atlantic herring | 1,754 |
| 10 | Beaked redfish | 990 |
| 11 | Atlantic bonito | 903 |
| 12 | Freshwater bream | 626 |
| 13 | Argentine shortfin squid | 621 |
| 14 | Atlantic cod | 242 |
| 15 | Amer. plaice(=Long rough dab) | 230 |
| 16 | Atlantic pomfret | 223 |
| 17 | Common dentex | 218 |
| 18 | Roach | 152 |
| 19 | European hake | 137 |
| 20 | Greenland halibut | 136 |
| 21 | European smelt | 134 |
| 22 | Madeiran sardinella | 120 |
| 23 | Hairtails, scabbardfishes nei | 119 |
| 24 | Mullets nei | 107 |
| 25 | Leerfish | 95 |
| 26 | Gobies nei | 75 |
| 27 | Vimba bream | 59 |
| 28 | Pike-perch | 53 |
| 29 | European perch | 35 |
| 30 | Tunas nei | 29 |
| 31 | European flounder | 24 |
| 31 | Goldfish | 24 |
| 33 | Vendace | 21 |
| 34 | Argentine hake | 18 |
| 35 | Jacks, crevalles nei | 15 |
| 36 | Bullet tuna | 14 |
| 37 | European eel | 12 |
| 38 | Twaite shad | 11 |
| 38 | Blue butterfish | 11 |
| 40 | River lamprey | 9 |
| 41 | Garfish | 8 |
| 42 | Blue fathead | 7 |
| 43 | Sichel | 6 |
| 44 | Round sardinella | 4 |
| 47 | Common carp | 3 |
| 47 | Turbot | 3 |
| 47 | Burbot | 3 |
| 47 | Asp | 3 |
| 47 | Northern pike | 3 |
| 50 | European plaice | 2 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.