Karlovac Deputy Mayor Marina Kolakovic told a news conference that a tender for public procurement for the implementation of the project would be published next week.
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) endorsed the financing of this project.
Croatia's Regional Development and EU Funds Ministry invested some 1.5 million kuna in the preparation of the necessary documentation to apply for the EU funds for this investment, and a total of HRK 36.2 million was approved as non-repayable funds from the EU for this purpose, which is 98.72% of the total value of the project, while the rest of 700,000 kuna will be provided by the City of Karlovacc.
The head of the city office for EU funds, Marina Grcic, said that the deadline for the construction of "KAquarium" had just started running and that the centre with all its amenities is expected to open its doors to visitors in late September 2016.
Some 12,000 visitors are likely to visit "KAquarium" in the first 12 months since its opening, and their number is expected to gradually rise over the next years.
"KAquarium" will consist of ten 25-square-metre pools and a series of small pools that will exhibit 150 freshwater fish species, including dozens of endemic ones.
(EUR 1 = HRK 7.6)