March the 1st, 2025 – Alongside bird watching, fish watching is increasingly popular. Croatian angling tourism could take off in a way (and for a reason) few might expect.

Croatia is a country full of maritime traditions. With a stunning coastline that stretches for endless miles, countless islands and plenty of rivers flowing throughout the country’s interior, fishing and living by and with the sea and the rivers is nothing new for Croats. Fishing kept the coastal part of the country, particularly Dalmatia, afloat economically for years. It fed families for generations and still wows visitors with the offer of freshly caught seafood on display in restaurants along the coastline.

What about turning that into tourism? It only makes sense that a country with such old, deep ties to the blue depths below makes more of it than the simple offer of coming and swimming in it. Croatian angling tourism might be the next big thing on the Croatian tourism map.

As Slobodna Dalmacija/Stanislav Soldo writes, the softmouth trout has been slowly but surely disappearing from Dalmatian rivers. It could, with a little luck and effort, make a comeback as a tourist attraction.

The softmouth trout is a globally endangered species, simply because its distribution area is limited to an extremely small number of watercourses which also happen to be heavily exposed to intensive human activities and changes. The fish is endemic to the eastern part of the Adriatic basin, where it inhabits only a few watercourses spanning Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. Here in Croatia, it is widespread in the Jadra and Vrljica rivers, in the Croatian part of the Neretva it can be found sporadically, while in the Krka river, it seems to be extinct, having last been recorded there almost 20 years ago.

This trout is endangered primarily owing to degradation and loss of habitat, the damming of watercourses, pollution, poaching and invasive species. The impact of climate change will only be seen in the coming years. As a unique trout, the softmouth represents a tourist potential in the form of fly fishing. Could Croatian angling tourism become a niche owing to this fish? Potentially.

croatian angling tourism could follow in slovenia’s footsteps

Armin Durgut/PIXSELL

Croatian angling tourism could become fruitful. Fishing tourism as a whole is one of the growing selective forms of tourism. It has become increasingly popular across Europe and the rest of the world. This form of tourism allows fishing enthusiasts to enjoy unique experiences out in nature, as well as personal engagement in sustainable fishing. Neighbouring Slovenia is famous for its trout fishing, and the beautiful Soča River is one of the most famous destinations for trout lovers in particular in the whole world. This river is home to one of the most valued species of trout – the Soča trout. The Neretva is undoubtedly the area in Croatia best known for its biodiversity, and bird watching has already gained popularity thanks to the wealth of birds that inhabit this area.

Owing to that, there’s undoubtedly plenty of potential for the development Croatian angling tourism. Given the natural heritage the Neretva abounds in, it is certainly possible as a new form of ecotourism.

“Nature is our greatest value and potential. We need to preserve it and use it sustainably, live with it and from it, in harmony,” they stated from the Institute for Nature Conservation, which is implementing the project to try to protect the softmouth trout.

In order to save this endangered fish species, the Improve River Life project was launched, which began in September 2023 and will last for five years. It was designed and prepared by experts from the Institute for Environmental and Nature Protection, with partners from Croatian Water (Hrvatske vode), the Krš i more institution, and the Zagreb Faculty of Fisheries. These four institutions are implementing the project, and the lead partner is the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition. The total value of the project is 4,683,000 euros, with a 75 percent EU co-financing share provided through the LIFE mechanism for nature and biodiversity.

The main objective of the project is to improve the condition of the softmouth trout living in Croatia’s rivers. The project’s activities are primarily focused on restoring their habitats and populations.

focusing on croatia’s delicate river ecosystems

The main focus is on ensuring the longitudinal connectivity of river ecosystems through the removal of artificial barriers. In cases where they cannot be removed, then the ability for this fish species to pass through unharmed is the goal.

Work will also be carried out on the restoration of the woody vegetation belt along the rivers themselves and on the harvesting and control of invasive species. On top of all that, although a minor activity in the entire project, it is important to create a cadastre of artificial barriers along watercourses flowing through Croatia that represent obstacles to fish migration, and the result will be a list of priority locations for ensuring passage.

Ultimately, the plan is to transfer the experiences and knowledge gathered through the project with colleagues from neighbouring countries, especially Bosnia and Herzegovina. This will be done in order to create additional capacities in the Neretva basin for the conservation of endemic fish fauna, primarily the softmouth trout.

The Improve River Life project represents activities aimed at saving this threatened fish species. When the conditions are right, there is a possibility of artificial spawning in order to increase the survival rate of the population and thereby help in the restoration, the Institute for Nature Protection pointed out.
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