Braking prohibited in zones C, D, and E from September 15 to October 14

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has adopted the Ordinance on the Spatial and Temporal Limitation of Commercial Sea Fishing with Bottom Trawls – Beam Trawls in 2026, published in the Official Gazette (Narodne novine) No. 98/2026 of September 4, 2026 (p. 1188). The Ordinance prohibits beam trawl fishing in fishing zones C, D, and E from September 15, 2026, at 00:00 hours until October 14, 2026, at 24:00 hours.

The measure directly affects commercial fishers engaged in bottom trawl fishing and is adopted based on Article 12, paragraph 1, point 1 of the Marine Fisheries Act (»Official Gazette«, No. 62/17, 130/17, 14/19, 30/23, and 14/24). The act was signed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister David Vlajčić, acting.

Prohibition in Zones C, D, and E

Article 2 of the Ordinance prescribes that vessels engaged in fishing with bottom trawl nets – beam trawls are prohibited from fishing in fishing zones C, D, and E in the period from September 15, 2026, at 00:00 hours to October 14, 2026, at 24:00 hours. The map of the area covered by the spatial and temporal limitation is located in Annex 1 of the Ordinance and constitutes an integral part thereof.

The prohibition applies to all floating objects engaged in commercial beam trawl fishing, regardless of the type of fishing permit. The one-month period coincides with the autumn part of the fishing season, when increased fishing effort is expected in the specified zones.

Exceptions in Zone E

As an exception to the general prohibition, beam trawling is permitted in fishing zone E in two cases:

• in the part of subzone E1 north of the line connecting Cape Grota on the island of Cres – Cape Pelova on the island of Krk;
• in subzone E2.

Thus, part of the northern Adriatic is excluded from the prohibition, while the remaining part of zone E and the entirety of zones C and D are subject to the monthly limitation. The provisions of Article 2 also apply to beam trawl fishing in zones C, D, and E as regulated by the Ordinance on Commercial Sea Fishing with Bottom Trawls – Beam Trawls (»Official Gazette«, No. 102/17, 74/18, and 20/19), the Ordinance on Fishing in Protected Areas, Special Habitats, and Areas with Special Fishing Regulations (»Official Gazette«, No. 125/20), and the Ordinance on the Special Fisheries Management Regime in Fishing Zone E (»Official Gazette«, No. 30/26).

Legal Framework and Entry into Force

The Ordinance was adopted based on Article 12, paragraph 1, point 1 of the Marine Fisheries Act, and enters into force on the first day following its publication in the »Official Gazette«. The act bears the markings Class: 011-01/26-01/35 and Registry Number: 525-12/917-26-3, and was signed in Zagreb on September 3, 2026.

The measure is part of the annual management of fishing effort to protect bottom populations during the sensitive autumn period. For commercial fishers and the fish supply on the market, the monthly prohibition of beam trawling in zones C, D, and E means a temporary interruption of part of the catch, while the exceptions in zone E allow for the continuation of fishing in part of the northern Adriatic.

Source: Ordinance on the spatial and temporal limitation of commercial fishing at sea with a bottom trawl – beam trawl in 2026, »Narodne novine«, no. 98/2026, p. 1188, dated September 4, 2026. (Class: 011-01/26-01/35, Registry Number: 525-12/917-26-3).