The sea connects us, but it also obliges us. That is precisely why the Interreg project ASPEH – Adriatic SPEcies and Habitats of coastal areas brings together Croatian and Italian partners in a joint effort to strengthen knowledge and improve the protection of sensitive marine habitats and endangered species of the Adriatic Sea.
After Sunce organized the first training session in Komiža in early October, focused on measures for the conservation of marine habitats, the second cross-border training took place from November 4–6, 2025, at the Al Gawsit Visitor Centre in the Torre Guaceto Marine Protected Area in Puglia. This time, the focus was on three endangered species of the Adriatic: the Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), the Ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca), and the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus).
The “Training on conservation measures for protected species” gathered experts and representatives of institutions responsible for managing and conserving nature. It created space for sharing experiences and building joint solutions. Through lectures, discussions, and fieldwork, we learned about population status, key threats, and specific conservation actions currently in place. The training embodied the spirit of the famous words by Senegalese forestry engineer Baba Dioum: “In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we have been taught.”
Protecting Loggerhead turtles in practice
The first day focused on the Loggerhead turtle, a strictly protected species in both Italy and Croatia. Although loggerheads are widespread globally, Mediterranean populations face increasing pressures. In addition to loggerheads, the green turtle and leatherback turtle occasionally appear in the Mediterranean, facing similar threats. The Adriatic is an important feeding area for loggerheads, but also nesting area, with the first confirmed nesting site in Croatia recently recorded on the island of Korčula.
– The increasing degradation of the environment caused by human activities is the most serious threat to sea turtles. We have seen firsthand how tourism affects this species. For example, in Torre Guaceto there was once a turtle that tourists had been feeding for years. It became so accustomed to humans that when it wasn’t fed, it began to bite them. This story clearly shows how human behavior in nature can disrupt the natural patterns of wild species and all because of ignorance, – said Francesco de Franco from MPA Torre Guaceto.
His colleague Giacomo Marzano presented techniques for monitoring and marking nests, while veterinarian Simona Soloperto led participants through practical activities at the Sea Turtle Rescue Center Torre Guaceto. Participants observed turtles in different stages of recovery, including those with amputated flippers – a sadly common occurrence, as almost three out of four turtles admitted to the Centre suffer such injuries. Yet, thanks to long-term rehabilitation, many can return to the sea.
Soloperto demonstrated the turtle intake procedure:
– Turtles come to our centre for various reasons: accidental bycatch, boat collisions, pollution, or illnesses like viral and parasitic infections. We sometimes receive juveniles with developmental issues or individuals that simply need to be identified for population studies. In rehabilitation, stress is their greatest enemy. Every movement must be deliberate, every action designed to restore the turtle’s strength and its instinct to survive in the sea, – she said.
The Ferruginous duck is losing its wetland home
The second day focused on the Ferruginous duck, a species dependent on preserved, quiet and shallow wetlands.
– This species faces numerous threats worldwide – from the drainage and regulation of wetlands, agricultural expansion, and pollution to invasive species and climate extremes like droughts. But the biggest issue remains the loss and degradation of wetlands. When the wetlands disappear, so does their home, – explained Marzano.
While Marzano spoke about the species’ ecological needs, biologist Leonardo Beccarisi presented wetland management measures that help maintain habitat diversity. That includes: controlling vegetation, managing water levels, and monitoring bird colonies.
– Protecting the ferruginous duck isn’t just about one species. Where this duck thrives, it means the water, vegetation, and entire ecosystem are healthy, – Beccarisi emphasized.
As participants then we visited Torre Guaceto, one of the richest biodiversity areas in the Mediterranean. Areas like that are a living example of how proper management can sustain natural resources.
The Kentish plover – a symbol of coastal fragility
The third day, led by Paolo Giacchini from the Municipality of Fano, focused on the Kentish plover, whose nests on sandy dunes are often destroyed by unregulated beach maintenance and intensive tourism.
– We can create all the plans and regulations we want, but if people on the beach don’t understand why part of it is fenced off, protection won’t succeed. We must build allies within local communities, – said Giacchini.
Indeed, the Kentish plover is a symbol of the fragility of coastal ecosystems. While populations in northern Europe are declining, Mediterranean populations still persist – though with fluctuating numbers. In Italy, between 500 and 700 pairs remain, but their numbers have dropped sharply in recent decades.
– The main problem is that the nests are almost invisible, often just a few meters from the sea. People unintentionally destroy them during beach cleaning or while walking their dogs. That’s why measures like fencing off nesting areas, setting up educational signs, and monitoring nests are crucial for the species’ survival, – Giacchini explained.
Protecting the ‘Adriatic treasures’
The training concluded with the release of a loggerhead turtle back into the sea. After examination confirmed it was healthy, it was fitted with a GPS transmitter to track its movements and further expand knowledge about its habitat use – valuable data for ongoing conservation efforts. Watching the turtle return to its natural home served as a powerful reminder of why this work matters.
– Rescue centres must be part of a broader conservation strategy, and not just for rehabilitation, but also for education, awareness, and research on causes of mortality, – Marzano emphasized in the end.
Through the Adriatic treasures campaign, now in its second year of implementation, the ASPEH project team continues to raise awareness of why every species counts and every habitat matters. Through educational content, work with schools, libraries, artists, the tourism sector, and local communities, we highlight the interconnectedness of species and habitats: sea caves, natural beaches, Posidonia meadows, Loggerhead turtles, Ferruginous ducks, and Kentish plovers – all need our protection.
Conservation is no longer a choice, it’s a necessity. And it’s only possible if we act together.
