WASTEREDUCE partners visit Dugi otok
Organized by Sunce, a two-day meeting of WASTEREDUCE project partners took place on May 12–13, including a visit to the pilot site –Sakarun Bay on Dugi Otok.
– We are glad we managed to bring all the partners together, present the issues concerning Sakarun, and exchange knowledge and experiences, – said Dalka Zanki, project manager from Sunce.
Sakarun as a pilot site for tackling waste
In all its turquoise beauty, Sakarun welcomed the project participants, who were impressed by its natural landscape. Interestingly, locals noted that the amount of marine litter was unusually low, especially compared to what is normally seen after storms.
– Sakarun is our pilot area, where we have already carried out activities like waste monitoring and field research on visitor behavior, – explained Zanki. As part of the Plastic-Free Croatian Islands initiative, Sunce also conducted research among concessionaires in protected areas of Dugi Otok. – It is important to raise awareness about alternative business practices without single-use plastics, – Zanki added.
The northwestern part of Dugi Otok is managed by the Public Institution Natura Jadera.
– To reduce the amount of marine litter, visitors arriving to Sakarun on organized boat tours are prohibited from bringing lunch boxes to the beach. For the first time in many years, sand has returned to the beach, thanks to the presence of Posidonia. It was long believed that Posidonia spoiled the appearance of the beach, so it was removed along with the sand, – emphasized Josip Brajković, chief nature ranger.
Sakarun is known not only for the turquoise color of its sea but also for large posidonia banquettes, which were long viewed negatively. However, Posidonia plays a very important role in preserving Sakarun.
– Posidonia is crucial for coastal preservation, it protects beaches from erosion and serves as a habitat for many marine organisms. Its removal has long-term consequences, – explained Morana Bačić from the Public Institution Natura Jadera.
Students from Gračac back in action at Sakarun
On May 13, project partners joined students from Gračac High School in a beach cleanup at Sakarun and nearby Lopata Beach.
-This has become a yearly tradition, – said teacher Sandra Fulanović.
Students collected mostly plastic litter. Most of the litter was plastic, as expected.
– We need more environmental activities in schools, – said student Sara Lajić.
– It is important to raise environmental awareness among young people, starting from an early age. – added her classmate Lana Alagić.
Did you know that marine litter can be seen from space?
The day before, a working meeting of the partners was held in Municipality of Sali, where the progress of project activities was discussed. Representatives from the University of Trieste have already started researching the possibilities of detecting marine litter from the air.
– We are exploring methods to detect accumulations of marine litter using drones and satellite imagery, – explained Giovanni Bacaro, who is conducting the research.
The footage is also important for ETRA SpA, an Italian waste management and energy distribution group. Their representative, Federica Lodato, announced the installation of cameras at popular tourist locations along the Brenta River to discourage visitors from leaving behind litter.
Local community as a key partner
A total of 19 representatives from partner organizations in Croatia and Italy met in Sali along with local stakeholders.
– WASTEREDUCE will bring positive change in how we manage litter on the island, – said Leonarda Lukin from the Municipality of Sali.
Josipa Grbin from the local utility company Mulić d.o.o. added that one staff member is dedicated year-round to keeping Sakarun clean.
– Tourism-generated waste is one of the biggest threats to island biodiversity, – warned Vesna Petešić from the Telašćica Nature Park.
All project partners took this opportunity to gain a better and more comprehensive understanding of the situation on Dugi Otok and Sakarun.
– Thanks to these field visits, partners gain a better insight into local challenges and needs. It is important that we meet on site and exchange experiences, – emphasized the project manager, Barbara Sladonja from the Institute of Agriculture and Tourism in Poreč.
The project partners also learned about sustainable agricultural practices on Dugi Otok by visiting the Žampera family farm in Žman. – Our products have organic certificates, and we truly make sure everything we do is in harmony with nature, – said the farm owner during the cheese tasting for the guests.
Exciting WASTEREDUCE activities ahead
– Two more visits to pilot areas are planned: the Brenta River valley and the western coast of Istria, including the Mirna River estuary and the Lim Bay, announced Sladonja, highlighting some upcoming project activities.
The project communicator, Nataly Milovan, also announced eco-days in Istria and Italy, with a special focus on an upcoming exhibition about marine litter.
– The exhibition will have an educational character, showcasing the impact of plastic on marine life and potential solutions to this problem, – announced Ana Šimić from Istria County.
If you want to contribute to a cleaner Adriatic, join the Sunce Cleanup Action Team and be part of one of our future actions. Subscribe to Sunce’s newsletter and be among the first to learn about new activities.
