Association of Small Coastal Fishermen of the Adriatic

The Association of Small Coastal Fishermen of the Adriatic, officially registered in Croatia just two years ago, brings together 41 small-scale fishers primarily from the northern coast up to Istria. Founded through an Interreg programme with Italy, the association promotes sustainable fishing and aims to improve fishers’ livelihoods by sharing knowledge, navigating regulations, and eventually forming a producer’s organisation. Using low-impact gear such as harpoons, traps, longlines, and nets, members fish from vessels under 12 meters and target high-value species like octopus, squid, and scampi. Their biggest challenges include unregulated recreational fishing, market pressures from dominant buyers, and limited fisher engagement.