The Ecological and Fisheries Protection Zone (Croatian: Zaštićeni ekološko-ribolovni pojas, ZERP) is a protected fishing area over Croatia's exclusive economic zone. The ZERP was initiated by the Croatian Peasant Party, then a member of Croatia's governing coalition. It was proposed to the Croatian Parliament by the Croatian Government of Ivica Račan and voted in favor of on October 3, 2003, and came into effect exactly one year later, excluding European Union member states. The government informed the United Nations Secretariat of the decision prior to the 2004 enactment of the zone. On January 1, 2008 the zone came into full effect as it began to be enforced for EU nations.