Overview of the state and current affairs of aquaculture in the Republic of Croatia in the period from 2000 to 2023.

Akvakultura, kao najbrže rastuća grana u prehrambenoj industriji ima veliki značaj kako u Hrvatskoj tako i u svijetu. Porastom populacije dolazi do sve veće potražnje, pa su tako zahtjevi za kvalitetom i količinom sve veći. Uzgoj u akvakulturi obuhvaća proizvodnju ribe i akvatičkih organizama kao što su školjkaši, rakovi, mekušci i vodeno bilje, te je profitabilnija od mnogih poljoprivrednih djelatnosti. Iako ova grana od začetka, pa do danas ima svoje stagnacije, jasno se vidi da se sustavno razvija i raste. Tijekom razvoja kroz povijest, akvakultura se susreće sa mnogim izazovima, te sve naprednija tehnologija uzgoja i ribolovnih alata, kao i zaštita od mnogih bolesti pokazuje iz godine u godinu sve veći potencijal i uspjeh u uzgoju akvakulture. Ovaj rad sadržava pregledni osvrt kroz zadnjih 20 godina akvakulture u Republici Hrvatskoj, te utjecaj novih tehnologija i razvoja u cilju poboljšanja proizvodnje. Također je riječ o mnogim izazovima s kojima se razvoj akvakulture u određenom periodu susretao, kao i trenutna stanja, te buduće ciljeve i strategije ove brzorastuće grane industrije. Svrha rada je da se pruži detaljni uvid u stanje i aktualnosti akvakulture u Republici Hrvatskoj, posebice u kontekstu novog Nacionalnog plana razvoja akvakulture za razdoblje od 2021. do 2027. godine (NPRA).Aquaculture, as the fastest growing branch of the food industry, is of great importance both in Croatia and in the world. With the growth of the population, there is an increasing demand, so the requirements for quality and quantity are also increasing. Aquaculture involves the production of fish and aquatic organisms such as shellfish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants, and is more profitable than many agricultural activities. Even though this branch has had its own stagnation from the beginning to this day, it is clear that it is systematically developing and growing. During the development throughout history, aquaculture is faced with many challenges, and the increasingly advanced technology of breeding and fishing tools, as well as protection against many diseases shows year by year the increasing potential and success in aquaculture. This paper will contain an overview of the last 20 years of aquaculture in the Republic of Croatia, and the impact of new technologies and developments aimed at improving production. It will also discuss the many challenges that the development of aquaculture has faced in a certain period, as well as the current conditions, as well as future goals and strategies for the rapid growth of the industry branch. The purpose of the paper is to provide a detailed insight into the state and current affairs of aquaculture in the Republic of Croatia, especially in the context of the new National Aquaculture Development Plan for the period from 2021 to 2027 (NPRA)