Summary/History
Lithuania lies on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. A unique and important area the Baltic Sea is the largest brackish water system in the world with marked salinity gradients so that there are areas cohabited by freshwater, brackish water and marine species. Many species of gulls, ducks, terns and waders overwinter along the eastern Baltic coast including rare species such as Seller's Eider (VU), Velvet Scoters (EN) and the Long-tailed Duck (VU) which has undergone a precipitous population decline in the last 20 years as shown by studies of wintering populations in the Baltic Sea (Skov et al. 2011). Other species including the Little Gull (LC), Great Cormorant (LC) and Common Merganser (LC). Work by Klaipeda University and partners is ongoing to create an inventory of marine species and habitat for the development of the NATURA 2000 network in the offshore waters of Lithuania including bird inventories using ship based surveys and water based telemetry. In particular satellite telemetry is being used to study the migratory movements of the Long-tailed Duck and Velvet Scoter. Between 2005 and 2009 the large-scale LIFE-Nature project managed by the Baltic Environmental Forum and involving BirdLife partners in Lithuania and neighbouring countries focussed on the identification and revision of existing IBAs in coastal areas. The project also undertook work to reduce the impact of the key threats and public awareness was raised through the media, information stands and seminars for stakeholders etc. Work is undergoing to ensure there are regular offshore seabird counts, to include all candidate marine IBAs are included in the Natura 2000 designation and to establish national legislation for protection of IBAs.
Current key threats to seabirds in Lithuania include
o Fisheries by-catch
o Pollution
o Coastal development and construction

National priorities
o Designation of SPA and SCI territories following inventories of marine species and habitats
o Retaining the current territory size of reefs of community interest

Government's support/relevant policy
As a results of the LIFE-Nature project in Lithuania borders of existing MPAs were specified and a large extension proposed for one site in addition a new marine SPA along the Curonian Spit was proposed mostly falling within the boundaries of the original IBA at this site. Please see policy tab for list of agreements that this country is party to.

References
o Durinck et al. (1994) Important marine areas for wintering birds in the Baltic Sea. Report to the European Commission by Ornis Consult.
o Skov et al. (2000) Inventory of coastal and marine Important Bird Areas in the Baltic Sea. BirdLife Denmark, Danish Ornithological Society, Copenhagen.
o Skov H., Durinck J., Leopold, M.F. and Tasker M.L. (2007).A quantitative method for evaluating the importance of marine areas for conservation of birds. Biological Conservation 136: 362