Law on wildlife (No. VIII-498). Country/Territory Lithuania Document type Legislation Date 1997 (2021) Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Fisheries, Wild species & ecosystems Keyword Fishery management and conservation Data collection/reporting Basic legislation Management/conservation Hunting/capture Protected area Hunting authorization/permit Institution Wild fauna Endangered species Registration Offences/penalties Protection of species Geographical area Europe, Europe and Central Asia, European Union Countries, Northern Europe Abstract This Law regulates the protection and use of all vertebrate and invertebrate animals and animal populations habitually existing in a state of freedom on soil, in water or air, including those living natural resources of the Continental Shelf and the economic zone in the Baltic. This Law does not regulate the use and protection of domesticated animals, hunting, to the extent that it is regulated by the Law on Hunting of the Republic of Lithuania, recreational fishing, to the extent that it is regulated by the Law on Recreational Fishing of the Republic of Lithuania, fisheries, to the extent that it is regulated by the Fisheries Law of the Republic of Lithuania, and the protection and use of protected wild animal species, to the extent that it is regulated by the Law on Protected Species of Animals, Plants and Mushrooms of the Republic of Lithuania and the legal acts of the European Union. Wild animals living in freedom belong to the state. The State Food and Veterinary Service, having identified an infectious animal disease and taking into account the risk of spreading this disease, prohibits the keeping of certain species of wild animals in captivity. Permits for the use of wild animals are issued, decisions on the suspension of the permit for the use of wild animals, the cancellation of the suspension of the permit for the use of wild animals and the revocation of the permit for the use of wild animals are taken by the authority authorized by the Ministry of the Environment, in accordance with this Law.Article 5 outlines measures of wildlife protection, including the establishment of reserves and other protected areas. Article 7 concerns the use of materials potentially harmful to wildlife and its "gene pools". Article 8 provides for the special protection of rare and endangered species of wildlife. Other provisions of this part of the Act deal with funding of protection measures (art. 9), resettlement, crossbreeding, and introduction of wildlife, and general powers of protection of the Government. Use of Wildlife is regulated by articles 12 to 24. use includes hunting (art. 16), fishing (art. 17), and trade in wild animals (art. 24). Article 25 provides for a national fauna cadastre. Remaining provisions deal with enforcement and consequences of violation of this Law. (31 articles divided into 6 Chapters) Full text Lithuanian/English References - Legislation Amended by Law No. XIII-776 amending Law on wildlife (No. VIII-498). Legislation | Lithuania | 2017 Keyword: Wild fauna, Stock enhancement/repopulation Source: FAO, FAOLEX