Baranovic said that in that way Croatia would protect both its national interests and the common interests of the European Union, citing a study commissioned by the EU which showed that the Union's common fisheries policy failed to produce desired results because the seas were devastated and environmentally endangered.

The HNS aims to encourage dialogue with our neighbours and EU members on responsible management of the sea, Turina-Djuric said, adding that their initiative would be presented to their coalition partners and to Parliament.

Baranovic noted that the Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone (ZERP), a limited version of the exclusive economic zone, made no sense because it had never started to function. He noted that Croatia's neighbours, who had been the staunchest opponents to the ZERP, had become aware that unless something was done the Adriatic would become a dead sea, underscoring the economic and social importance of fishing on both sides of the Adriatic.

Baranovic called for quality management and control measures and stressed that Croatia should become one of the leaders in formulating a common fisheries policy because it had both tradition and experts.

If we do not approach the fisheries issue responsibly and protect the fish stock, future generations will not have a chance to engage in fishing as an occupation, Baranovic said.

The HNS MPs said they were aware that proclamation of an exclusive economic zone would not bring instant financial and economic benefits, but that it would pay off in the long run.

Earlier this month the European Commission presented the results of a study showing that establishment of exclusive economic zones in the Mediterranean would be a good way of resource management that could contribute to sustainable growth. The Commission said that proclamation and establishment of maritime zones remained the sovereign right of each coastal country, and that Mediterranean countries could agree on establishing such zones based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.