Lithuanians among most concerned about Baltic Sea protection

The survey examined the attitude of the population towards the problem in nine countries in the region, namely, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden. According to the results, the public concern about the environment of the Baltic Sea is most pronounced in Sweden, Lithuania, Estonia, and Finland where people recognize their personal responsibilities in improving the marine environment.

Asked whether they agreed with the statement “I am concerned about the Baltic Sea environment”, residents of Lithuania were strongly in approval – the gross average indicator was 4.35 on a scale of 5. In terms of this indicator, merely Sweden with 4.41 points was ahead of Lithuania.

Lithuanian residents also said problems of the Baltic Sea environment were among the three key problems, the gross average indicator was 3.96, putting Lithuania behind Sweden and Finland, while the Estonian indicator was very similar to that of Lithuania at 3.97.

Among all neighbors around the Baltic Sea, Lithuanians secured the strongest support to the statement that it was their duty to join the efforts to protect the sea (3.84 points); however, they also gave strong backing to the statement that the worsening of the marine environment was exaggerated (2.56 points).

Lithuanians also said the protection efforts needed an international agreement (4.59 points), they were only behind Sweden in terms of this indicator. The support to the statement “I can play a role in improving the condition of the sea" put them in the middle of the result list (2.94 points).

Residents of the region said they were willing to pay 14-380 litas (EUR 4-110) per year for improvement of the Baltic marine environment, while Lithuanian residents expressed willingness to pay an average of 22 litas for healthier marine ecosystems.

According to the survey, improvement of the Baltic Sea environment would then cost Lithuania 55 million litas per year.

The survey also asked about leisure time at the sea. The results showed that Lithuanians, just as Germans, Latvians and Poles, fish less than residents of other countries in the Baltic Sea region; however, Lithuanians and Poles spend more time at the beach.

During the face-to-face interview in 2011, the survey interviewed 617 Lithuanian residents between age 15 and 74. A total of more than 10,000 individuals were interviewed in the nine countries.