ZAGREB, 11 Feb 2022 - Fishing restrictions in the Jabuka Pit is a brilliant example of how such measures can quickly renew the fish stocks and can serve as an example for other situations in the Mediterranean, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković told reporters after the One Ocean Summit in the French port city of Brest on Friday.

The Jabuka Pit, the area stretching from Croatia's Žirje island to the Italian city of Ortona contains almost one-quarter of the total biomass of commercially important fish varieties in the northern and central Adriatic.

For years the Jabuka Pit was an area where more than 30% of catches by Croatian and Italian trawlers came from. However, excessive fishing exhausted the fish stocks, and fishing has been restricted there since 2015.

The measures were successful and the fish stocks have been revived.

Addressing the summit, Plenković said that preserving the oceans is one of the most important global challenges and Croatia wants to make additional efforts in the fight against sea pollution and to preserve biodiversity.

He noted that Croatia "is making a very clear contribution" in the fight against plastic waste.

Croatia has banned the use of plastic bags and other disposable plastic products.

"Plastic is not easily degradable. Any piece of plastic that ends up in the Adriatic is negative both from the aspect of animal and plant habitats and from the aspect of keeping the Adriatic clean and maintaining Croatia's attraction as a tourist country," the prime minister told reporters.

He participated in the One Ocean Summit at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Plenković said that as a maritime country, Croatia wants to be an example in the fight against ocean and sea pollution.

He added that on the 40th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, it is necessary to invest maximum effort to conclude the treaty on the conservation of biodiversity to be above the national legislative framework.

"That would be yet another joint step of a binding nature that would reduce the impact of global warming," Plenković said.

BiH needs a fair election system

The prime minister used the summit in Brest to meet on its margins with European Council President Charles Michel and some other colleagues to discuss the election reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).

Plenković announced that the issue could be discussed at the European Council and added that "Michel has a lot of understanding" in that regard.

He said that in the meantime it is important for talks between political parties in BiH to continue, primarily between the Croat and Bosniaks.

"It's good that talks were held yesterday in Sarajevo and that they will continue," he said.

"We will do everything on our part for an agreement to be reached, naturally, one that will enable a fair election system," Plenković said.

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ZAGREB, 11 Feb 2022 - Protecting oceans is one of the most important global challenges and Croatia wants to make additional efforts in combating sea pollution and preserving biodiversity, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said in Brest, France on Friday.

"Protecting oceans, the biggest ecosystem on Earth, is equal to protecting our planet, preserving our biodiversity, our lives," he said at the One Ocean summit, which he attended at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Plenković said protecting oceans and seas was necessary and that, as a maritime country, Croatia wanted to set an example in the fight against the ocean and sea pollution.

Oceans absorb one-third of global carbon emissions and play an important role in lowering the global temperature, but they are not immune to climate change and human impact, so it's necessary to protect them.

Croatia has banned plastic bags and single-use plastic products and intends to contribute to the global goal of protecting oceans, Plenković said. "By 2030, we will protect 30% of the sea under our jurisdiction."

Croatia wants to designate more restricted fishing areas so that excessively exploited marine ecosystems can replenish on the model of Jabučka Kotlina, an example of how to replenish the fish stock and preserve biodiversity to the satisfaction of fishermen, scientists, and all people.

"That shows that protecting a small area can significantly advance biodiversity and food safety," Plenković said.

After his address, he wrote on Twitter that "protecting oceans is one of the most important global challenges" and that "on the 40th anniversary of the Convention on the Law of the Sea we must invest the maximum effort to conclude an agreement on the preservation of biodiversity above national legislative frameworks."

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ZAGREB, 11 Feb 2022 - Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković will on Friday hold a speech on sea protection and efforts to deal with plastic pollution during  "The One Planet Summit for the Ocean" in Brest, which is being hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.

France, the current chair of the European Union, is organizing this 9-11 February summit on ecology.

"The goal of the One Ocean Summit is to raise the collective level of ambition of the international community on marine issues and to translate our shared responsibility to the ocean into tangible commitments," it is stated on the summit meeting's website.

Image: @AndrejPlenkovic/Twitter

"Several important initiatives will be launched on this occasion in favor of marine ecosystem protection and sustainable fisheries, intended to fight pollution, in particular from plastics, respond to the impacts of climate change, as well as advocate for improved governance of the oceans."

In attendance at the summit are European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel.

Plenković, who flew to France on Thursday evening, met Michel ahead of the summit meeting last night.

Plenković tweeted on his account that he and Charles Michel discussed Croatia's aspirations to join the Schengen Area and the euro area, and efforts to address energy price rises as well as the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the importance of the reform of that country's election legislation.

Croatian Economy Minister Tomislav Ćorić is also expected to participate in the Brest event.

Due to strict health protection measures, physical access to attend the One Ocean Summit in person will be limited to the main professionals and officials from the international community, namely over 500 personalities representing more than 65 countries, while other speakers will join via video conference.

In Brest, apart from Plenković, another two premiers from EU member-states, Michael Martin of Ireland and Robert Abela of Malta have arrived. Furthermore, heads of state or government from Morocco, Tunisia, Tanzania, Ghana, and so on are also among the guests.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau are expected to address the event via video link.

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