Croatia

Type of species farmed

Main finfish marine species in 2023 were gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), and shellfish species are Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis). 

Main freshwater species were common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

^{Source: 2026, Ministry of Agriculture – Directorate of Fisheries, MA-DoF}

Type of production method

The most relevant segments in Croatian aquaculture are: 

• Other marine fish cages: Bluefin tuna.
• Seabass and seabream cages.
• Carp ponds.
• Mussels long lines.

^{Source: 2025, STECF}

^{Source: 2026, MA-DoF; 2024, EUMOFA}

Trends (past and future)

• Although domestic freshwater aquaculture represents a relatively small part of the fisheries and aquaculture sector’s economy, it has the potential to boost development and jobs in the inland and rural areas of the country. The freshwater aquaculture sector is very important for the maintenance and conservation of biological diversity and supporting the local community.
• Marine aquaculture dominates Croatia’s sector, with sea bass and sea bream accounting for over 60% of production value, driving strong interest in further expansion. The coastline offers good potential for growth, but sustainable coastal management, improved market organisation, and a stronger legal framework are essential. The sector is also seeing increased investment, technological innovation, and diversification into new species, supported by rising domestic demand and stable EU prices.
• Freshwater aquaculture faces limitations due to space and structural challenges, but technological improvements and new species could support gradual growth. Efforts are also being made to expand trout production into marine environments. However, the sector faces risks from diseases and predators, making biosecurity, animal welfare, and protective measures key priorities for future development.

^{Source: 2025, STECF}

Impact of aquaculture in the country’s economy, food market and labour market

• Croatia’s aquaculture sector saw income growth (13% from 2021 to 2022), supported by diversification and vertical integration, with many companies generating revenue from activities such as processing, agriculture, and tourism. Investments, often supported by subsidies, focused on expanding production and strengthening processing capacity, contributing to a stable economic contribution to the sector.
• However, profitability has declined due to rising operating costs and wages, despite increasing revenues. While returns on investment remained positive and assets grew, overall performance shows slowing profitability but continued resilience, with the sector maintaining stability and a cautiously optimistic outlook.
• Croatia’s aquaculture development plan (2021–2027) identified key strengths and challenges through stakeholder consultations. The sector benefits from strong social acceptance, driven by job creation, support for rural areas, and the availability of affordable, high-quality products, which has increased public support compared to more expensive wild fish.
• In 2021–2022, the aquaculture sector faced rising energy, feed, and logistics costs, largely driven by the war in Ukraine and supply disruptions. Feed prices increased significantly, along with energy and other operational costs, reducing profitability. Despite these pressures, the sector maintained overall positive performance, demonstrating resilience to economic and geopolitical shocks.
• The Croatian aquaculture sector was strongly affected by COVID-19, mainly due to the closure of the HORECA channel, which significantly reduced demand. This led to surplus production, logistical challenges, and higher costs, although some losses were offset by retail sales and continued exports. Government subsidies and company adaptability, such as technological investments and market adjustments, helped mitigate the impact.
• In the longer term, the sector faced structural challenges, including rigid production cycles and increased investment risks. Despite this, companies continued investing to improve competitiveness, and overall, the sector proved resilient and managed to overcome the crisis.

^{Source: EuroFish; 2025, STECF}

Challenges and opportunities

^{Source: MNSPA-NPRA 2027}

Employment and number of enterprises

177 enterprises in 2023 

^{Source: MA-DoF}

• Aquaculture Act: No. 130/2017, No. 11/2018, No. 144/2020 and No. 30/2023
• Ordinance on the Register of licences for the use of alien and locally absent species in aquaculture, the Register of Imports and Transfers and the List of Closed Aquaculture Facilities No. 10/2018
• Ordinance on Licence for Aquaculture No. 17/2018
• Ordinance on Professional Training for Aquaculture Activities No. 56/2018
• Ordinance on Criteria for Establishing Areas for Aquaculture on the Maritime Domain No. 106/2018
• Ordinance on the collection of statistical data on aquaculture: No. 137/2021 and No. 87/2022
• Ordinance on approval for performing aquaculture activities on family agricultural farms
• Ordinance on the disposal of tuna farming capacity and permitted input quantities of caught wild tuna (Thunnus thynnus) to farms: No. 22/2021, No. 9/2022, No. 8/2023 and No. 9/2024
• Ordinance on labelling of farming installations, monitoring of operations on farms and traceability during bluefin tuna farming (Thunnus thynnus) No. 63/2022
• Ordinance on Registry of aquaculture vessels No.61/2023 

• Croatian Chamber of Economy, Sector for Agriculture, Fisheries Association
• Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts, Fisheries and Aquaculture Guild
• Mariculture Cluster    
• Ston Shellfish Farmers Association

Sources

• EUMOFA Country Profiles
• EUMOFA “The EU Fish Market” 2025 edition
• EUROFISH Member Countries
• Directorate of Fisheries (DoF) of the Ministry of Agriculture
• STECF 24-14 - EU Aquaculture