Sardine fishing limited to five days per period until the end of 2026.

The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries David Vlajčić has issued the Decision on the spatial and temporal limitation of fishing effort when conducting commercial sea fishing with a purse seine net – sardine net, published in Narodne novine number 98/2026 of September 4, 2026 (pp. 183–184). The Decision limits fishing to a maximum of five (5) fishing days per individual fishing permit in the part of fishing zone A that is not covered by the fishing regulation in the Ordinance on fishing opportunities in commercial sea fishing with a purse seine net – sardine net.

The Decision is based on Article 12, paragraph 5, in connection with Article 12, paragraph 1, item 1 and item 8 of the Marine Fisheries Act (»Narodne novine«, No. 62/17, 130/17, 14/19, 30/23 and 14/24). It is issued by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and refers to Area 1 shown in Annex 1 of the Decision. The measure affects the small pelagic fishing industry fleet that fishes with a purse seine – sardine net in that part of zone A.

Limitation Periods

Fishing with a purse seine – sardine net is permitted for a maximum of five (5) fishing days in each of the four periods until the end of 2026:

• from September 5 at 12:00 PM to September 30 at 12:00 PM;
• from September 30 at 12:00 PM to October 31 at 12:00 PM;
• from October 31 at 12:00 PM to November 30 at 12:00 PM;
• from November 30 at 12:00 PM to December 31 at 12:00 AM.

The limitation applies per individual fishing permit, and the area covered by the measure is shown on the map in Annex 1 of the Decision.

Entry into Force and Expiration

The Decision enters into force on the first day following its publication in Narodne novine and expires on December 31, 2026, at 12:00 AM. Upon the date of entry into force, the previous Decision on the spatial and temporal limitation of commercial sea fishing with a purse seine net – sardine net (»Narodne novine«, No. 16/26 and 27/26) ceases to be valid.

The Decision was signed in Zagreb on September 3, 2026, under class 011-01/26-01/43 and registry number 525-12/917-26-1.

Significance for the Fishing Fleet

The measure to limit fishing effort is part of the management of commercial fishing for small pelagic species in the Adriatic and directly affects the planning of fishing activities for the purse seine fleet in the last quarter of 2026. The limitation to five fishing days per period reduces the number of sea outings and may affect the income of fishers who depend on the sardine catch in that part of fishing zone A.

Source: Decision on the spatial and temporal limitation of fishing effort when conducting commercial sea fishing with a purse seine net – sardine net, Narodne novine number 98/2026, pp. 183–184, Zagreb, September 4, 2026, class 011-01/26-01/43, registry number 525-12/917-26-1.