Decline of Artisanal Fisheries in the Croatian Section of the Sava River

Abstract The aim of this research is to analyse the trends of the total artisanal fish catch in the Croatian section of the Sava River. All 17 years of the study (2004-2020) showed a negative trend that became highly statistically significant (p<0.01) in the last eight years. In addition to the total catch, the catch per unit effort (CPUE) also decreased significantly (p<0.05) throughout the study. The reasons for these negative trends are discussed, including a possible decline in artisanal interest, higher fishing pressure from anglers from the Croatian side and both groups of fishermen from the river bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as negative influence of the polluted waters of the large Bosnian river Bosna, which prior to flowing into the lower section of the Sava River, passes through urban and industrial cities. It is suggested to activate the old idea of a common fisheries management body that would include both groups of fishermen (anglers and artisanal fishermen), government representatives and scientists from both countries.