Ušće Neretve (the mouth of the Neretva River) was declared a protected area by the Regulation of the Government of the Republic of Croatia on August 20, 2020, as a special ornithological and ichthyological reserve.
The reserve consists of four parts: Parila, Galičak I, Galičak II, and Uvala Blace, connecting the marsh and marine landscape at the mouth of the Neretva River, encompassing both the coastal land area and the sea area. It includes a large area with glasswort (Salicornia), a halophilic plant adapted to life in conditions of high salt concentration at the river's entrance to the sea, surrounding shallows, and lagoons such as Galičak Bay on the right hinterland of the river with the surrounding coastal area important for bird nesting. Additionally, it includes Lake Parila on the left side of the estuary, significant as a resting and feeding ground for the migration and wintering of numerous bird species.
The additional value of this area lies in its suitability for the spawning of numerous fish species due to shelter, and the Parila lagoon and surrounding sandy areas are the richest recruitment areas for fish and crustaceans in the central Dalmatia region.
