Professor Branko Glamuzina
CURRENT STATUS AND TRENDS IN CROATIAN MARICULTURE
Job Title: Vice Rector for Science
Employer: University of Dubrovnik
Biography
Prof. Branko Glamuzina is Vice Rector for Science at University of Dubrovnik. He worked in the aquaculture sector for 25 years in research, higher education and commercial enterprises. He was Head of Department for Aquaculture at university from 2002 to 2008. Major areas of his interest are reproduction of marine organisms, genetic improvement of cultured species and general management of coastal areas, estuaries and wetlands.
SUMMARY
Croatia has a long tradition in cultivation of marine waters. The culture of flat oysters started 300 years ago in Malostonski Bay, and it was followed by introduction of Mediterranean mussel in the 20th century. The culture of marine fish, mainly sea bass and gilthead sea beam, started in the 1980-ies with the building of one of the first industrial marine hatcheries in Zadar. In the late 1990-ies tuna fattening emerged in Croatia, as one of the first commercial trials in the Mediterranean. However, the story of Croatian mariculture is a story of lost opportunities. Although one of the pioneers in business; coastline with a number of potential culture sites, developed scientific and technological support and enormous tourist market, the Croatian production today is insignificant in European relations. The present production is around 4000 tons of shellfish (mainly mussels and around 100 tons of flat oysters), 4000 tons of sea bass and sea bream and 5000 tons of tuna. Only three marine hatcheries, one bigger and two smaller are presently operational. The production costs are comparable with EU prices, and even smaller in the cases of shellfish.
