Law on aquaculture.

This Law regulates the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy of the European Union in the area related to aquaculture. This Law further defines the national objectives of aquaculture development, the manner and conditions for carrying out aquaculture activities, the competent bodies for aquaculture and market functions, inspection and monitoring provisions, as well as other issues relevant to aquaculture. This Law shall apply to all natural and legal persons carrying out aquaculture activities on the territory of the Republic of Croatia. It will also apply to all natural and legal persons as well as to participants in the processing and marketing of aquaculture products, in the framework of the common organization of the aquaculture product market and aquaculture aid and aquaculture aid measures and data collection in aquaculture. The provisions of this Law will not apply to the cultivation of ornamental aquatic organisms, that are subject to specific legislation. This text is divided 48 articles. Main topics covered are as follows: strategic importance of aquaculture; competent bodies; institutional support; conditions for carrying out aquaculture activities; permits and licenses, related fees and administrative issues; public bidding for the award of a concession and public tenders for the award of fish ponds; use of foreign and locally invisible species in aquaculture; use of native and strictly protected species in aquaculture; ecological production in aquaculture; professional qualification for carrying out aquaculture activities; vessels in aquaculture; international co-operation in aquaculture; collecting aquaculture data and statistics; market in aquaculture sector; several inspection issues and penalty provisions.
This Law regulates the framework for the implementation of the EU Regulation in the area of aquaculture: Regulation (EU) No. 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on a common fisheries policy, amending Council Regulations (EC) 1954/2003 and (EC) No. 1224/2009 and the non-application of Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002 and (EC) No. 639/2004 and Council Decision 2004/585/EC; Council Regulation (EC) No. 708/2007 of 11 June 2007 on the use of foreign and locally invasive species in aquaculture; Commission Regulation (EC) 535/2008 of 13 June 2008 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) 708/2007 on the use of foreign and locally invoked species in aquaculture; Regulation (EC) 762/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 on the submission by Member States of statistics on aquaculture and on the non-application of Council Regulation (EC) 788/96; Regulation (EU) 2016/1627 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2016 on a multiannual recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea and on the non-application of Council Regulation (EC) 302/2009; Regulation (EU) No. 640/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2010 establishing a program for the identification of bluefin tuna catching stock (Thunnus thynnus) and amending Council Regulation (EC) 1984/03; Regulation (EU) No. 1379/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 on the common organization of the market in fishery and aquaculture products, amending Council Regulations (EC) 1184/2006 and (EC) No. 1224/2009 and the repeal of Council Regulation (EC) No. 104/2000; Council Regulation (EC) No. 199/2008 of 25 February 2008 on the establishment of a Community framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice on a common fisheries policy; Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 establishing a Community control system for the assurance of conformity with the common fisheries policy, amending Regulation (EC) 847/96, (EC) No. 2371/2002, (EC) No 811/2004, (EC) No. 768/2005, (EC) No. 2115/2005, (EC) No. 2166/2005, (EC) No. 388/2006, (EC) No. 509/2007, (EC) No. 676/2007, (EC) No 1098/2007, (EC) No 1300/2008, (EC) No. 1342/2008 and the repeal of the Regulation (EEC) No. 2847/93, (EC) 1627/94 and (EC) No. 1966/2006; Regulation (EU) No. 508/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) 2328/2003, (EC) No 861/2006, (EC) No. 1198/2006, (EC) No. 791/2007 and Regulation (EU) No. 1255/2011.
Aquaculture is a strategic branch of the economy in the Republic of Croatia, and is as such an integral part of other development strategies. The Government of the Republic of Croatia pursuant to the provisions of the Article 34 of Regulation (EU) 1380/2013, at the proposal of the Ministry, provides the Multi-Annual National Strategic Development Plan for Aquaculture. The multi-annual national strategic development plan for aquaculture includes objectives, measures and deadlines for achieving such goals. The Government of the Republic of Croatia, upon the proposal of the Ministry, and after it has been approved by the European Commission, shall adopt the Operational Programme for Fisheries, including Aquaculture sector issues. To achieve the sustainable development of aquaculture and its economic, ecological and social role, aquaculture development goals in the Republic of Croatia are defined as the necessary improvement of the overall aquaculture competitiveness and its sustainability in socio-economic terms; increment of the total production in aquaculture while respecting the principles of economic, social and environmental sustainability.