The established Blue Economy sectors in Lithuania directly employ 31.9 thousand people and generate approx. €1 billion in GVA (2022). The Lithuanian Blue Economy sectors represent a relatively small share of the national economy, contributing by approx. 1.7% to national GVA and 2.2% to national employment.
The size of the Blue Economy in Lithuania has been growing steadily since 2013 in terms of employment and nominal GVA, reaching in 2022 its highest levels on our records since 2009. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have much smaller in Lithuania than in other EU countries, with a drop of only 0.3% of GVA between 2019 and 2020.
The largest Blue Economy sector in Lithuania is Living resources, contributing to 33.6% of the country’s Blue Economy GVA and 40% of its workforce. The second largest Blue Economy sector is Shipbuilding and repair, representing approx. 32% of total Blue Economy GVA and more than 34% of its employment. Next is Port activities, with a share of 17% of the national Blue Economy GVA and 9% of its workforce.
In the EU, Lithuania ranks 9th in employment in the Shipbuilding and repair sector.
Lithuania has 90.6 km of coastline along the Baltic Sea. This extends to 262 km when taking into account the Curonian Lagoon coastline. The largest container port in the country is the Port of Klaipėda (ranked 29th in the EU), the only multipurpose, deep-water port in Lithuania, handling more than 28 million tonnes of containerised cargo per year. This is followed by the Port of Butinge, which handles approximately 9 million tonnes (2023). Fishing vessels also use small ports, such as Nida and Šventoji.
The Port of Klaipėda also serves as the main ferry terminal, connecting Lithuania to other Baltic and Scandinavian countries. It serves as a key gateway for passenger transportation, particularly for ferry services to and from Germany, Sweden, and Denmark. Three hundred sixty-eight thousand passengers embarked or disembarked in the port of Klaipėda in 2023.
Lithuania has established a robust framework for monitoring and promoting the national blue economy. Key players include:
The Lithuanian Ministry of Environment, which oversees marine spatial planning and environmental protection.
The Marine Research Institute is a subdivision of Klaipėda University, conducting fundamental and applied research on marine and coastal environment and maritime technologies. The Institute aims to facilitate science, study, and business cooperation, based on high-level scientific knowledge and the up-to-date open access research infrastructure of the Marine Valley.
The Ministry of Agriculture manages the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) in Lithuania, aiming to modernize the fisheries sector, enhance aquaculture sustainability, and promote circular economy practices.
The Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) is an intergovernmental organisation that protects the marine environment in the Baltic Sea from pollution, preserves its biological diversity, and promotes the sustainable use of its resources. Lithuania is one of the contracting parties and signatories of the Helsinki Convention. Lithuania assumed the chairmanship of HELCOM for the 2024–2026 term, succeeding Latvia, with a focus on balancing the development of the blue economy with environmental sustainability, and fostering public dialogue in the context of geopolitical challenges.
Other national sources of information on the Lithuanian Blue Economy are:
Currently, there are a few opportunities to acquire Blue Economy education and skills within the country, such as the BSc in Biology and Marine Technology or the MSc in Maritime Transport Engineering offered by the Klaipėda University and the Vilnius University Life Sciences Centre, respectively.
Marine Strategy Framework Directive: Economic and Social Analysis (ESA)
As part of the MSFD reporting obligations, Member States must provide an Economic and Social Analysis of the blue economy. This analysis is integrated into the broader reporting package under Articles 8, 9, and 10, which includes:
- The status of marine waters;
- The determination of GES;
- Environmental targets to achieve GES.
The Economic and Social Analysis (ESA) report for the 2024–2029 cycle is presented below in PDF format. This document is available in English translation, with the original language included where applicable.
The full reports submitted under Articles 8, 9, and 10 are available here: MSFD Reporting Portal.
For more information on the implementation of the MSFD, visit the European Commission’s MSFD page.
This interactive dashboard presents the evolution of the blue economy for Lithuania. It is designed to provide insights into key economic indicators over time.
At the top of the dashboard, there is a drop-down menu that allows users to select one of the following data categories:
- Employment: Number of jobs and workforce trends in the blue economy sectors.
- Gross Value Added (GVA): The contribution of the blue economy to the national economy.
- Turnover and Gross Profit: Revenue and profitability metrics of blue economy industries.
- Investment: Capital investment levels in blue economy sectors.
Once a category is selected, the main panel updates to display relevant visualisations, such as line charts or bar graphs, showing trends over time. These visualisations are accompanied by labels, legends, and tooltips to ensure clarity and accessibility.
The dashboard is navigable via keyboard and compatible with screen readers. All interactive elements are clearly labeled, and data visualisations include alternative text descriptions summarising key insights.