Maritime delimitations regarding fishing between the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and the Kingdom of Italy through the Fishing Convention of Brijuni of September 1921

Abstract

U ovom se radu razmatra podjela ribolovnih zona u Jadranu nakon potpisivanja Brijunske konvencije o ribolovu i njezina povezanost s prosinačkim incidentom u Maunskom kanalu. Početni dio rada daje pregled odredbi u vezi s ribolovom na Jadranu tijekom 19. stoljeća. Po opisu ozračja koje je vladalo nakon završetka Prvoga svjetskog rata i tijeka pregovora uoči konvencije obavljena je analiza talijanske verzije sporazuma u skladu s pratećim kartografskim izvorom. Konvencija je nastala kao rezultat višemjesečnih pregovora između Kraljevine Srba, Hrvata i Slovenaca i Kraljevine Italije kojima se pristupilo nakon potpisivanja Rapallskog ugovora. S obzirom na to da je na temelju njegovih odredbi Italiji pripao veći dio Istre, Zadar te otoci Cres, Lošinj, Lastovo i Palagruža, došlo je do preklapanja interesnih sfera u ribolovu. Na dogovorene pregovore svaka je strana poslala priznate stručnjake za ribolovna pitanja koji su 14. rujna 1921. godine na Brijunima zaključili pregovore i potpisali sporazum. Njime je istočna obala Jadrana podijeljena na ribolovne zone različite kategorije pri čemu se načelno zadržalo isključivo pravo ribolova unutar jedne nautičke milje za obalno stanovništvo. Odstupanja su, zbog stoljetnih tradicija i diplomatskih ustupaka, primijenjena u pojedinim zonama među kojima se nalazio i Maunski kanal. Nepuna tri mjeseca nakon završetka pregovora jugoslavenske su vlasti na području između Mauna i Paga uhitile skupinu talijanskih ribara pod optužbom nepoštivanja ribolovnih zakona. Mjesto i vrijeme incidenta sagledani su kroz prizmu odnosa dviju država. Pritom je korištena talijanska verzija konvencije koja je u slučaju spora priznavana kao izvorna. Dostupni jugoslavenski izvori ne otkrivaju mnogo, no talijanska strana pokazala je velik interes za spomenuti incident koji je dobio prostor i u raspravi na sjednici talijanskog Parlamenta. Spomenuti događaj jedan je od primjera koji daje uvid u složene odnose dviju zemalja početkom dvadesetih godina 20. stoljeća i približava okolnosti u kojima je živjelo tadašnje stanovništvo istočne obale Jadrana.This paper deals with maritime delimitations in the Adriatic Sea after the signing of the Convention of Brijuni, and its connection with the incident in the Maun Channel. The first part of the article gives an overview of the most important fishing regulations since the 19th century. Upon defining the atmosphere after the First World War and the course of negotiations, the author analyses the Italian version of the agreement in accordance with the attached map. The convention was a result of several months of negotiations between the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and the Kingdom of Italy, which were held after the Treaty of Rapallo had been signed. According to that agreement, Italy gained possession over the major part of Istria and Zadar, as well as the islands Cres, Lošinj, Lastovo, and Palagruža; this led to the overlapping of the fishing jurisdiction. Both countries sent their renowned fishing experts to negotiate, and the result of their work was the Convention of Brijuni, signed on 14 September 1921. With this convention, eastern Adriatic coast was divided into different fishing zones, basically respecting the rule of one-mile-limit for local fishermen. Due to long fishing traditions and diplomatic concessions, exceptions were made in some areas, including the Maun Channel. Three months after signing the agreement, Yugoslav authorities arrested a group of Italian fishermen who were fishing in the channel between the islands Pag and Maun. The time and the place of the incident were analysed in accordance with bilateral relations of the two states. This article relies on the Italian version of the Convention, since it was recognised as the original version in case of a dispute. Yugoslav historical sources do not reveal as much as the Italian ones. The Italian side showed a greater interest in the matter, and the incident was a subject of discussion in the Italian Parliament. Upon exchanging diplomatic notes, fishermen were released and the incident was concluded. This event is one of the examples providing an insight into complex relations between the two countries, as well as the atmosphere in which the inhabitants of eastern Adriatic coast lived during the first decades of the 20th century