Croatia has officially banned sport and recreational fishing for all sharks and rays (Elasmobranchii) in its waters, the Adriatic Sea. This measure is a major milestone for species protection in the Adriatic and across the Mediterranean region.
The new rule is included in Croatia’s regulation on sport and recreational fishing at sea, which was published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia on 8 May 2026. It states that the “Maximum number of individuals to be caught and retained: 0 individuals” applies to sharks and rays.
Background to the decision
The proposal for this comprehensive ban was originally initiated by Professor Alen Soldo of the University of Split, a partner in the LIFE European Sharks project. The initiative also received strong support from the Croatian Federation for Sport and Recreational Fishing.
The rule applies both to local residents and to the many tourists who fish in Croatian waters. If sharks or rays are caught accidentally, they must be released safely and properly to ensure a high survival rate.
More than half of the sharks and rays in the Mediterranean are threatened with extinction. Recreational fishing can have significant cumulative effects on populations through accidental bycatch, underlining the need for such protective measures.