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CROMPA

Croatian Marine Protected
Area Network

The state of marine protection in Croatia

Croatian jurisdiction currently protects around 32% of its marine area. This figure includes 17 areas within national protection categories, such as national parks, nature parks and special reserves, as well as 247 Natura 2000 sites, which cover 16.26% of the coastal sea. In addition, 9.81 km² are located within the Protected Ecological and Fisheries Zone (ZERP), while the permanent protection of the Jabučka kotlina, introduced in 2021, further increases the share of protected sea to 12.6%.

While these figures are impressive, we believe that even more can be achieved – through joint work, strategic planning and connecting all those who care about the Adriatic. This is precisely why HRMZP exists – more than a network, it is a community dedicated to marine conservation. Whether you are an expert, researcher, protected area manager or simply a sea lover, we invite you to get involved in our activities. Join us! Our network is not only a space for collaboration - it is the initiator of concrete actions. Contact us by e-mail or follow us on social networks. Together we can be part of the solution for preserving our sea.

The Croatian Marine Protected Area network, also known as CROMPA, is an informal platform focused on conserving the Adriatic Sea by strengthening cooperation and coordination among key stakeholders. We connect experts, institutions and communities to jointly respond to challenges such as overfishing, pollution, climate change and habitat loss.

CroMPA brings together representatives of public institutions, ministries, the scientific community and civil society organizations. Our goal is to connect experts and institutions from the nature protection sector and encourage cross-sectoral cooperation – from local to national levels – in order to exchange knowledge, experiences and work together to protect marine ecosystems.

In line with the objectives of the European Biodiversity Strategy, CroMPA actively works on the conservation of the Adriatic Sea through a number of initiatives:

We organize monthly online lectures where experts share knowledge on key topics of marine and coastal protection.
Through thematic working groups, we focus on the development of ecological anchorages, monitoring the status of species and habitats, as well as legal issues and advocating for necessary legislative changes.
We promote the exchange of information and experiences among stakeholders, encourage cooperation with MedPAN - the Mediterranean Network of Marine Protected Area Managers, and contribute to regional initiatives.

We organize annual gatherings to strengthen the network and plan future activities, and through advocacy we raise awareness of the importance of marine protection among decision-makers and the wider public.