Croatia · Spearfishing zone
River estuaries — posebna staništa (Dragonja, Mirna, Zrmanja, Jadro, Žrnovnica, Cetina, Neretva, Rijeka dubrovačka) and the Raša estuary
What this zone is
Overview
How spearfishing is treated at River estuaries — posebna staništa (Dragonja, Mirna, Zrmanja, Jadro, Žrnovnica, Cetina, Neretva, Rijeka dubrovačka) and the Raša estuary.
The estuaries of the Dragonja, Mirna (Tarska uvala), Zrmanja, Jadro, Žrnovnica, Cetina and Neretva rivers, and the aquatorium of Rijeka dubrovačka, are designated 'posebna staništa' (special fish habitats / nurseries) under Article 14(2) of the in-force Pravilnik NN 125/2020. Inside them only hand lines, set longlines (max 2, 150 hooks), fish pots (max 35) and gigs are permitted — the speargun is not among the permitted gears, so spearfishing is prohibited — and Article 14(6) expressly extends this to sport and recreational fishing. The Raša estuary (bounded by Cape Ubac – Cape Mulac – Cape Puntal – Rupa cove) is regulated separately under Article 15 point 6 and Article 21 as an 'area with special fishing regulation'; the speargun is likewise absent from its list of permitted gears, so spearfishing is prohibited there too. The Rječina estuary is NOT covered by any of these provisions and carries no marine-fisheries spearfishing prohibition. Each of these estuaries is now carried as its own mapped zone with the Ministry’s own boundary-derived coordinate; this entry states the shared legal rule.
Source
This zone is documented in the official source below.
Before you dive
License for Croatia
Whether you need a license to spearfish here, and how to get one.
Sport licences are sold through clubs/associations affiliated with the Croatian Federation for Sport Fishing at Sea (HSSRM); recreational licences via the Ministry's fisheries portal and authorised vendors. Issued in electronic form.
Get your licenseOpens the official portal · hssrm.hr



