Summary/History
Croatia has a coastline on the Adriatic sea and has collected good data on its seabird colonies with long term monitoring of colonies of Audouin's Gull (NT), Yelkouan Shearwater (VU) and Shags. Work is continuing to map all Yelkouan Shearwater and Cory's Shearwater (LC) colonies in the Lastovo archipelago as well as mapping the distribution of the European subspecies of the Mediterranean Shag in Kvarner. In addition a pilot rat eradication programme at the two shearwater colonies in the Lastovo archipelago is underway.

Key threats to Croatian seabirds include:
o Pollution, especially oil and chemicals from shipping
o Introduced species
o Habitat loss
o Overfishing and bycatch

National priorities
o Continuation of surveying and monitoring of seabird colonies in Croatian islands
o Start research on the non-breeding distribution and foraging areas of seabirds via collaboration at a regional level using colour ringing and high-tech monitoring such as data logger and PTTs
o Capacity building to increase fund raising and develop project management abilities
o Adopting an Adriatic conservation stratergy with other neighbouring countries
o Development and implementation of seabird tracking- marine IBA projects in Croatia

Government's support/relevant policy
The State Institute for Nature Protection is trying to establish MPAs. The 2006 designated Lastovo Nature Park, off the south-east coast of Croatia, covers an area of some 200km Please see policy tab for list of agreements that this country is party to.

References
http://www.pap-thecoastcentre.org/pdfs/Croatia%20WEB.pdf