Croatia bans sport and recreational fishing for sharks and rays in landmark step for Mediterranean conservation
Split, 13 May 2026. Croatia has officially banned sport and recreational fishing for all sharks and rays, marking a major conservation milestone for the Adriatic Sea and the wider Mediterranean region.
The new regulation – included in the Croatian Ordinance on Sport and Recreational Fishing at Sea published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia on May 8th – is the result of a year-long consultation process. The proposal of a total ban on all sharks and rays for recreational fishing was originally advanced by Prof. Alen Soldo of the University of Split, partner of the LIFE European Sharks project. The measure received strong backing particularly from the Croatian Federation of Sport and Recreational Fishing, highlighting the growing involvement of fishing communities in the sustainable management of the resources and in shark and ray conservation.
Although an angler may encounter sharks or rays only occasionally, the overall scale of recreational fishing activity can generate significant cumulative bycatch, posing serious risks to both protected and non-protected – often endangered- species. But accidentally caught sharks must be released safely and in line with best handling practices: research shows that proper handling greatly increases the survival chances of released sharks and rays.
More than half of Mediterranean sharks and rays are already threatened with extinction. This regulation – which affects also the many tourists that fish in Croatian waters – represents not only a regulatory advance, but also a concrete step toward more sustainable interactions with marine wildlife.
The Croatian regulation also marks a particularly important achievement for the LIFE European Sharks project, which is currently in its third year. One of the project’s core activities is to assist authorities, policymakers and communities in implementing shark conservation measures, as well as improve compliance, enforcement and awareness surrounding shark and ray conservation across the Mediterranean, including reducing human-induced mortality and promoting best handling and release practices for accidentally caught animals.
LIFE European Sharks (LIFE22-GIE-IT-LIFE-EU-SHARKS/101114031) is co-financed by the European Union through the LIFE Programme. The project is coordinated by the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, with partners in Croatia (University of Split), France (Parc naturel marin du Cap Corse et de l’Agriate) and Italy (Acquario di Livorno, Centro di Competenza Distrettuale, DREAM Italia, Guardia Costiera, MedSharks, Shoreline Società Cooperativa and DAGRI-University of Florence).
