Taking into account an increasing demand for aquatic products on local as well as the EU market, the fisheries sector has a very high potential for economic growth and increased employment.

In Croatia, there is a significant lack of expert staff able to continue with the development of fisheries on the principles of sustainability and a scientific and interdisciplinary approach. Precisely due to this need for new workforce on the labour market, capable of supporting the further development of the blue sector in Zadar County and Croatia in general, the project “Blue Education for Sustainable Management of Aquatic Resources – BLUE SMART” has been designed.

Through the project two main solutions were applied:

• The establishment of the graduate study programme on “Sustainable Management of Water Ecosystems”

• The design of a Training Course for the Vocational Education and Training in „Introduction to sustainable fisheries practice“