Malostonski zaljev / Mali Ston Bay special marine reserve

Mali Ston Bay (Malostonski zaljev i Malo more), enclosed between the Pelješac peninsula and the mainland, is a special marine reserve declared in 1983 and protected primarily as a shellfish-farming ecosystem. It is NOT a no-take area: Article 4(1) of Pravilnik NN 125/2020 expressly permits commercial fishing there with a listed gear set. For a spearfisher the operative rule is Article 2(1): sport and recreational fishing in a special marine reserve requires a special licence issued in accordance with the act of the managing public institution, which may prohibit or further restrict it (Pravilnik NN 48/2026, Article 13(4)). No such act has been published — the reserve's management plan states the framework for issuing those licences is still being established — so do not spearfish here without confirming the reserve's current licence conditions.