This is a successful continuation of the Trout and Tourists project funded by the EU through the PHARE 2005 programme, which was launched in 2006 as a joint undertaking by the Town of Otočac, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Croatian Chamber of Economy and Gacka Ltd. with the mission to preserve endangered cold water fish and crustacean species in krastic waters. The European Commission has approved the PHARE project in the amount of EUR 630,222.85. These funds were used for the renovation of the Centre infrastructure, acquisition of up to date breeding equipment and purchase of research equipment worth EUR 150,000.00. The research equipment was donated to the RBI Laboratory for ichtyopatology - biological materials, which enabled the RBI scientists to start working on the revitalization of the trout and crawfish stocks. The final project objective is the maintenance of biodiversity of our indigenous species of fish and crustaceans, protection of endangered species from extinction, and the prevention of the uncontrolled entering of allochthonous species in the krastic waters. The first step in achieving this primary objective is to determine autochthonous species in the krastic waters by determinig their genetic structure.

The Delegation of the European Commission to the Republic of Croatia has ranked the project Trout and Tourists among the most successful projects supported by the EC funds. They have included the project in an overview of the projects that have already contributed to the economic, administrative, educational or social development in Croatia.

The Croatian Centre for Indigenous Species of Fish and Crawfish in Karstic Waters was established in 2006 by the Town of Otočac, Croatian Chamber of Economy, Ruđer Bošković Institute and Gacka Ltd. Although the primary activity of the Centre is scientific research and breeding of authentic varieties, within less than a year it has been discovered as an extremely attractive tourist destination. Since its opening it has had more than 1500 visitors.