A Climate for Change

(^154) The Fishing and Mariculture Industries Human Development Report - Croatia 2008
tuna, has enabled the resurgence of the traditional
pelagic fishing industry. The large demand for salted
anchovies in the EU, mainly the Italian market, has also
resulted in the production growth of this commodity
in Croatia, which is influencing the redevelopment of
fishing activities for this species. In the mariculture
sector, both fish and shellfish production have been
restructured in preparation for entering the EU mar-
ket. However, despite all these recent achievements,
the sector is still fragile and faces an unknown future.
IV Sprattus sprattus
VI Merluccius merluccius
VII Nephrops norvegicus
VII Mullus barbatus
Type of fish Description of the market
Marine species in general - The total marine species production in Croatia in 2005 was around 10,000 tonnes,
which included 3,000 tonnes of sea bass and sea bream, 3,425 tonnes of tuna, 2,500
tonnes of mussels, and 800,000 specimens of European oysters. The catch of marine
fish, including both demersal and blue fish species, was around 36,500 tonnes.
Small pelagic fish –
sardines, anchovies and
spratIV

• Dominate production in Croatia (about 87% of the total weight)


• Mainly include fish destined for fish-processing plants and feeding of farmed tuna.


• Also the most common fish consumed in the domestic market.


• Between 2004 and 2007, the demand for pelagic fish increased at the same rate as
  overall production: 7%.


• Around 17,000 tonnes of small pelagic fish are processed annually, including pro-
  duction of salted fish such as anchovies (6,110 tonnes), frozen fish (1,935 tonnes),
  canned fish (6,920 tonnes) and smoked fish, fish pâté, and marinated fish (1,980
  tonnes).^8

Demersal/ bottom feeding

catches

• As much as 80% of demersal catches are composed of not more than ten species,^9
  with the most important being hake,V Norway lobsterVI and striped mullet.VII This
  can be attributed to over-fishing of other important demersal fish species.


• Demand has been increasing over the last few years

Numerous

fish species

previously found

in more southern

areas are moving

northwards

Table 9-2: Description of the markets for fisheries products.