Small fishing is unique to Croatia and does not exist in the European Union, so it will have to be incorporated into other categories, say experts with the Ministry of European Integration in charge of adjusting Croatia's legislation to EU standards.
National legislation on fisheries envisages economic, sports, small, training and tourist fishing. The category of small fishing is not known in the EU and in Croatia it enables people living on islands to secure part of the means of their existence.
Croatian fishermen use equipment which is different from equipment prescribed by EU laws, however, Croatia could negotiate to keep the existing equipment because of unique characteristics of the Adriatic, as was the case with Greece.
The system of satellite ship control, which exists in EU member-countries, ensures efficient control because it provides constant information on the location of fishing activities and the quantity of the catch. Croatia could seek assistance from the EU's pre-accession funds for that purpose.
The Croatian fishing fleet numbers some 3,150 vessels. The 2004-2009 fleet development programme envisages the construction of 30 new vessels and the withdrawal of old ships.