This season, with the campaign And Where Do You Anchor?, we aimed to draw the attention of sailors and sea lovers, reminding them of the importance of preserving the Adriatic Sea. The campaign was not just a question about where someone anchors, but also an invitation to jointly explore sustainable practices at sea.
We raised awareness among sailors and the general public
During the season, we shared recommendations and expertise on ecological moorings, seagrass meadows that are key to the marine ecosystem, strict protection zones and legal obligations at sea. As part of the Interreg Italy – Croatia EFFICIENTN2K project, Sunce conducted analyses of pressures on the sea and coast in protected areas, with a special focus on Natura 2000 areas. After the analysis, we raised the project to a practical level by going into the field to directly inform sailors in the bays about the importance of responsible behaviour (we visited Zlatni rat and Šćedro). Our goal was to help them recognize the impact of their activities and encourage them to adopt sustainable practices at sea. Many sailors reacted positively to these efforts and expressed their satisfaction that such initiatives exist, even suggesting that there should be more of them.
In addition to sailors, we are glad that we managed to raise awareness among citizens. Namely, the campaign resulted in an increased number of calls to the Green Phone service. So, this summer – in addition to the “most popular” reports from the waste domain – we received 29 cases of marine pollution, which is why we even introduced a new category “sea”. And as devastating as they are, these results will allow us to focus our advocacy efforts next season on increasing advocacy with the relevant institutions for more effective problem solving and protection of our sea. The calculation is simple: the more complaints there are, the more grounds we have for advocating for change. So don’t hesitate when you see a problem in nature and the environment, especially at sea, but call us and let’s start making changes together!
– We are extremely pleased with the response to the campaign And Where Do You Anchor?. The number of reports and inquiries received during the summer clearly shows that people have recognized the importance of preserving the Adriatic Sea and the need for joint action. We are especially pleased that as part of the campaign we have managed to encourage not only sailors, but also the public to participate more actively in protecting the sea and coast. This positive response motivates us to continue with initiatives that combine education, practical advice and a call for responsible behavior, because each report contributes to creating the foundation for concrete changes, – says Vida Zrnčić, Expert Associate at Nature Conservation Department.
Green Sail: an example of successful education for sailors
Fortunately, we are not the only ones fighting for the restoration of the Adriatic. This year, Green Sail, as their manager Ornela Krezić tells us, has conducted training in more than 15 marinas and encouraged charter company employees to take online courses. Of particular note is the new course Sustainability for Skippers and Crew Management, which provides tools and knowledge for responsible vessel management. In addition to training, the organization has expanded its collection of data on the ecological footprint, including small cruisers for the first time.
Among the most significant initiatives are environmental campaigns at nautical events, educational Eco Walk Talk tours in Split, which educated more than 700 tourists, and beach clean-up actions. In addition, they have improved the sustainability manual for their partners and launched new educational programs for guests on small cruise ships.
Green Sail is a non-profit organization that leads initiatives to protect and promote sustainable tourism in coastal communities and on the seas and oceans. They work closely with charter companies, marinas and environmentally conscious businesses, providing educational programs and materials. To this date, they have achieved significant results, including 1,955 yachts supporting them and flying their flags, 110 partner companies, 50 volunteers and more than 1,000 educated students.
Key problems and challenges
Despite noting the willingness of some in the nautical sector to change, unfortunately, infrastructure and legislation are not keeping pace with market needs.
– The enthusiasm of companies has waned in recent years, partly due to the lack of institutional support. The biggest challenges in the nautical season are the uncontrolled discharge of black wastewater, inadequate washing of vessels in marinas, and unsustainable coatings for vessels, – points out Križić.
She adds that pressures on the Adriatic Sea also come in the form of greenhouse gas emissions, fuel and noise pollution, anchoring that destroys posidonia meadows, and the spread of invasive species. These problems highlight the urgent need for a more systematic and sustainable approach.
– The focus of our work is seagrass, especially posidonia, which represents one of the key, but also the most endangered, habitats in the sea. They provide food, shelter and space for reproduction and development to many marine organisms, while simultaneously producing oxygen and protecting the coast from erosion. Among other things, they contribute to sustainable fishing and support the economy of local communities. Unfortunately, posidonia meadows are exposed to constant threats, so in addition to free anchoring, they are also threatened by the filling of the shore, the cultivation of marine organisms and the use of trawling fishing gear. Given that we are aware of the increasing pressure of nautical tourism on them, this year Sunce started the cross-border Interreg Italy – Croatia project BIOPRESSADRIA, which is aimed at testing and implementing a joint cross-border strategy in order to find practical solutions to reduce the negative impacts of coastal and nautical tourism on the biodiversity of the sea and coast, – says Zrnčić.
New tools for sustainability
To address the aforementioned and other issues and challenges at sea, Green Sail boasts the development of innovative tools, such as a tool for tracking the ecological footprint of vessels. This tool allows charter companies to determine a clear assessment of their sustainability and identify areas for improvement.
– It has been two years since the Green Sail team completed the development of a vessel ecological footprint system for charter companies. This first-of-its-kind system has been verified by scientists from the Croatian Institute for Tourism. The system shows how efficiently and sustainably a vessel is managed. If we want to preserve what is local and unique to us, we must prioritize collecting environmental data so that we can build sustainable local and national policies and strategies. We need information about pollution – its concentration, sources and distribution – and that is why environmental monitoring is crucial. Through this system, we calculate a score for each vessel, considering the emissions the vessel produces, energy consumption, water use, and the amount of waste generated on board, – she explains.
The system also includes elements that can reduce or neutralize the environmental impact of the vessel. This includes anti-fouling processes, the presence of renewable energy sources on the vessel, waste separation points, etc. This takes into account the age of the vessel, the frequency of its use and the purpose of use (e.g. charter or recreational sailing).
– We have also developed a system for environmental audits for charter companies and marinas. These audits assess the overall environmental efficiency of the business and compliance with regulations, thus ensuring the adoption of best practices for environmental protection. – explains our interviewee.
Positive developments are visible, according to Krezić, among the younger generations and regular guests, who increasingly understand the importance of sustainable practices. Foreign guests, especially from countries with developed environmental awareness, are leading the way in adhering to the rules, while local sailors are still lagging in adopting responsible behaviour.
– Green Sail continues its current activities, focusing on education and detailed measurement of the ecological footprint of vessels. Our vision of sustainable nautical tourism is based on a responsible and controlled approach, which balances tourist activities with the preservation of natural resources. Sustainable nautical tourism is not only a technical issue, but also a question of changing awareness and behaviour. – says Krezić, emphasizing that the consistent application of sustainable practices is key to preserving the Adriatic Sea for future generations.
Joint mission for a sustainable Adriatic
Both the campaign And Where Do You Anchor? and Green Sail’s activities emphasize the need to reduce the pressures of nautical tourism in the Adriatic through controlled and responsible behaviour at sea.
Both initiatives send a clear message: sustainability in nautical tourism is not just an option, but a necessity. By combining education, innovation and joint action, it is possible to reduce the harmful impact on the environment and preserve the natural beauty of the Adriatic.
– I truly believe that sustainable tourism is possible in Croatia, it just takes more will and interest from those who are in a position to make decisions that will affect future generations. Sustainable nautical tourism is a controlled and responsibly directed form of tourism that aligns activities with the need to preserve natural resources and the environment, while providing a quality experience for visitors. In the world of nautical sustainability, controlled development and human behaviour are often more important than technology. Whether it’s a skipper choosing the right anchorage to avoid damaging Posidonia meadows, a yacht crew ensuring proper waste sorting and disposal, or clear guidelines and controls by competent authorities, consistent practice is what keeps marine ecosystems alive and thriving. – concludes Krezić, with whom Zrnčić agrees.
– The successful preservation of marine habitats in the Adriatic, such as Posidonia meadows, submerged and partially submerged caves, and muddy and sandy bottoms that are not covered by the sea at low tide, as well as various organisms in the sea and on the coast, such as the ferruginous duck, the kentish plover and the loggerhead turtle, is crucial for the long-term sustainability of our tourism and life by the sea. For example, we are working on this as part of the Interreg Italy – Croatia project ASPEH – Adriatic SPEcies and Habitats of coastal areas. I believe that education of sailors and all those who use the sea, together with the effective implementation of rules and regulations, is essential. Sunce will therefore continue to advocate for change, and we hope that this will result in visible differences on the ground as soon as possible. – adds Zrnčić.
Every sailor, whether by anchoring responsibly, reducing waste or supporting initiatives like these, can contribute to preserving the sea. Sunce’s campaign And Where Do You Anchor? and Green Sail together show how small changes can turn into big steps towards a sustainable future.