"With the experience and knowledge of our employees and cooperatives, and by investing in business improvement, providing high quality products, we will become recognisable producers of marine fishery products on the domestic and foreign markets."
In Tribunj, a small fishing town on Croatia’s Adriatic coast, tradition is being brought back to the table through acknowledging local fish diversity, traditional processing techniques and the work of women helping to renew a coastal community.
At the heart of this story are Matea Lovrić and Ivana Bračanov of Ribarska Zadruga Adria, the Adria Fishing Cooperative. In a sector still often perceived as male-dominated, their work shows how women can play a central role in strengthening local fisheries, creating new products and opening opportunities in the blue economy.
A strengthened local community
Founded in 2007, Adria was created to organise the local fishing sector, support fishers and their families, and help the community adapt to changing market and regulatory conditions.
Rosa Milutinović, cleans shrimps and prawns
Nikolina Vuković Stipaničev/Cropix
Today, the cooperative manages the Tribunj Fishing Port, operates its own processing facility and distributes fresh and processed Adriatic fish to restaurants, retail chains, fish markets and hotels across Croatia.
Adria’s story is not only about infrastructure or production. It is also about leadership, skills and local identity. Under Matea Lovrić’s direction, the cooperative has invested in quality, training and innovation while staying rooted in the traditions of the Dalmatian coast. Ivana Bračanov works alongside her in promoting the cooperative’s activities and strengthening its public profile.
The idea behind Adria’s processing work came from a simple observation: the Adriatic Sea offers a rich diversity of species, but local markets and culinary habits have traditionally focused on only a limited number of them. Some fish were regularly caught, but rarely valued by consumers or restaurants.
Adria turned this challenge into an opportunity. By applying traditional Croatian techniques such as salting and smoking, the cooperative began transforming underutilised catches into high-quality processed products. These methods help extend shelf life, reduce waste and create added value from species that might otherwise remain outside the local food market.
From port to plate
The cooperative’s approach has helped create a short and traceable value chain. Fish unloaded at the Tribunj port can enter processing nearby, helping to preserve freshness and maintain a strong link between fishers, the cooperative and the final product.
European support played an important role in making this transformation possible. Through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, accessed via the local fisheries action group FLAG Galeb, Adria was able to invest in the equipment and capacity needed to develop its processing activities. The funding helped the cooperative acquire processing equipment, hire qualified staff, meet food safety requirements and bring a new product line to market.
Women leading in a sea of change
The project also created new opportunities for women. Fish processing, administration, quality control, communication and local promotion are all areas where women contribute to the fisheries sector, even when they are not directly involved in fishing at sea. In Adria’s case, women’s work is part of a wider renewal connecting traditional knowledge, product innovation and community-based entrepreneurship.
Adria’s impact goes beyond its products. The cooperative supports employment promotes local seafood and helps maintain Tribunj’s identity as a fishing community. Through FLAG Galeb, it has also joined a broader network of coastal stakeholders, opening the door to cooperation on sustainability, waste management and marine education.
Adria now aims to expand production capacity and explore new markets in Croatia and abroad. In a sector often described through decline, it offers a different story: one of renewal, cooperation and women’s leadership. With EU support, local knowledge and a strong connection to place, this Croatian fishing cooperative shows how maritime heritage can become a driver of innovation in the blue
Contact information
Website of RZ Adria: https://www.rzadria-tribunj.hr/
This project has received funding from the European Union through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).