Protected areas (including EU Natura 2000 network) play a vital role in safeguarding biodiversity and protecting natural resources essential for human well-being. When effectively managed, they generate benefits that go far beyond their boundaries: strengthening local economies, supporting sustainable development, and enhancing climate resilience. However, these valuable ecosystems are under increasing pressure.
The Adriatic Sea represents a shared ecological and economic space between Italy and Croatia. Although both countries have made significant progress in establishing marine protected areas and developing strong legal frameworks, effective surveillance and enforcement remain a persistent challenge, especially in coastal and marine environments where many different institutions have the authority.
Previous Interreg Italy – Croatia project EFFICIENTN2K, identified major gaps in surveillance data management and reporting systems that weaken effectiveness of enforcement and limit institutional learning. New ADRIWATCH project addresses these systemic challenges as a follow-up initiative.
General project objective
To enhance the protection and sustainable management of marine biodiversity in the Adriatic Sea by developing and piloting a harmonised cross-border digital surveillance system for Marine Protected Areas.
Specific project objectives
- Assess gaps in existing surveillance data collection and reporting systems.
- Develop and test a pilot digital database for standardized surveillance data collection.
- Strengthen institutional capacity through coaching sessions, trainings and cooperation between institutions involved in the enforcement chain.
- Actively engage students and young professionals through service-learning activities.
- Increase transparency and public awareness about the importance of effective and accountable marine surveillance.
Protecting the sea we share requires shared responsibility, shared knowledge, and shared action. Marine ecosystems do not recognize borders and current pressures affect the entire Adriatic basin. Surveillance gaps in one country directly influence conservation outcomes in the other. Effective protection demands cross-border institutional cooperation, coordinated surveillance, reliable and comparable data, and transparency. ADRIWATCH project hopes to ensure long-term sustainability and replication across the Adriatic region.
The ADRIWATCH project is funded under the Interreg Italy–Croatia Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2021–2027 (Integrated governance for stronger cooperation, Specific Objective 5.1).
Lead Partner: Association for Nature, Environment and Sustainable Development Sunce (Sunce)
Project Partner: Consorzio di Gestione Area Marina Protetta Torre del Cerrano (Torre del Cerrano Marine Protected Area Consortium)
Total project budget: EUR 252,660.57 (Sunce’s budget: EUR 130,640.97)
EU programme funding: EUR 202,128.45
Start date: February 1, 2026
End date: July 31, 2027
Project Manager on behalf of Sunce:
MSc Matea Špika, mag.biol.
E-mail: [email protected]
Communications Manager on behalf of Sunce:
Bruna Tomić, MA in Journalism and Public Relations
E-mail: [email protected]
Official project website:
