The catch and farming of fish and other sea organisms in Croatia in 2020 grew by 10.8% from 2019, while the value of fish production rose by 10.7%, according to data from the national statistical office (DZS).

The increase in the value of fish production was due to an increase in the value of marine fisheries, of 11.6%, which was owing to an 11.1% rise in the quantities of fish sold.

Last year saw 67,248 tonnes of bluefish sold, an increase of 7,800 tonnes from 2019. The value of bluefish sold rose by 13.9% to HRK 519.2 million.

Also sold in 2020 were 18,309 tonnes of other types of fish, worth HRK 774.8 million, up 13.5% from 2019.

The number of sea fishermen in 2020 dropped by 0.4% to 6,582, with the number of commercial fishermen going down by 1.5% to 3,030 and the number of small fishermen going up by 0.6% to 3,552.

The number of fishing vessels dropped by 0.8% to 7,555.

The total catch and production of sea fish and other sea organisms in 2020 was 10.8% higher than in 2019, at 89,965 tonnes.

Bluefish accounted for the largest portion of last year’s total catch, with 65,057 tonnes. With 3,323 tonnes of farmed bluefish added to that quantity, the total bluefish catch and farming amounted to 68,380 tonnes, or 12.5% more than in 2019.

Sardines accounted for the largest share of the bluefish catch in 2020, 73.3%, with 50,134 tonnes caught, or 11.1% more than in 2019.

The catch of crustaceans in 2020 dropped by 9% to 925 tonnes and the catch and farming of shellfish dropped by 45.1% to 693 tonnes.

At the same time, the catch of molluscs rose by 18.3% to 932 tonnes.

Freshwater fish farming down by 10.3%

DZS data also show that the total production of freshwater fish in 2020 dropped by 10.3% to 2,780 tonnes.

The value of freshwater fish produced in 2020 dropped by 11.1% from 2019, owing to sales going down by 10.4%.