In search of the shellfish of northwestern Istria

Shellfish are one of the most popular seafood delicacies in northwestern Istria. They are caught year-round, but they are most flavourful in February and March, when local restaurants design special menus as part of the Shellfish Days festival. The most prized local shellfish is the scallop, while mussels, oysters, sea truffles, queen scallops and Noah’s arks are also popular.

Safe buying

It is safest to buy shellfish from one of the dozen farms in Istria, which regularly check the quality of the sea water and their shellfish in accordance with Croatia’s laws and regulations. Mussels and oysters are the most popular shellfish in Istria’s farms, while the other shellfish mostly grow in natural habitats on the sandy sea bottom.

Permitted ways of catching shellfish

In Croatia, just like for recreational and sports fishing, a permit is required to catch shellfish, whether from a boat or from the shore. The permitted daily catch of live shellfish must not exceed 2kg, except for mussels, of which up to 5kg is allowed.

Catching shellfish and minimum size