This July, the Croatian environmental NGO Sunce is once again giving a voice to one of the Adriatic’s most important – yet most threatened – inhabitants. The immersive light show “Voice of the Sea – Posidonia oceanica“, created by Tomislav Brđanović, will illuminate the Arsenal in Hvar on9 July, before travelling to the façade of the Fishermen’s Museum (Komuna) in Komiža on 30 July.
Author: Đani Ivančević
Both events will take place from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM, offering visitors a unique open-air experience that combines striking visuals, sound, emotion and science to reveal both the beauty and fragility of the Adriatic underwater world. The projections are free to attend and open to everyone.
– The projection portrays Posidonia literally screaming in pain as boat anchors tear through its meadows. That cry leaves a powerful impression on the audience and encourages people to reflect on their own relationship with the sea, – explains Zrinka Jakl, BIOPRESSADRIA project manager at Sunce. This light show was created as part of the BIOPRESSADRIA project.
The invisible guardian of the Adriatic
Posidonia oceanica is a true flowering marine plant. It blooms, produces fruit and forms vast underwater meadows found nowhere else in the world but the Mediterranean.
Author: Đani Ivančević
– These meadows are among the most valuable habitats in the Adriatic. They provide shelter, breeding grounds and feeding areas for more than 20% of all known Mediterranean marine species, – says Karla Jelić, who participates at the Posidonia monitoring activities at Sunce.
– At the same time, they produce large amounts of oxygen, store carbon dioxide and help mitigate climate change. Just one square metre of Posidonia meadow can produce up to 14 litres of oxygen per day, which is why Posidonia is often referred to as the ‘lungs of the Mediterranean‘. Its extensive root system stabilises the seabed, reduces coastal erosion, softens wave energy and helps maintain the crystal-clear waters we all love, – Jelić adds.
Yet despite its immense importance, most people have never even heard of it.
Giving Posidonia a voice
That is exactly why this underwater plant becomes the protagonist of the light show. Through light, sound and storytelling, Posidonia is given a voice to share its story and warn us about the threats it faces every day. Although most people overlook it while swimming or sailing – perhaps noticing only a dark patch beneath the surface – it is one of the very foundations of life in the Adriatic Sea.
– Unlike the damage caused by anchoring, which happens almost instantly, Posidonia takes decades to recover. It grows only about one centimetre per year, meaning a single careless anchoring can destroy a meadow that took decades to develop, – says Jakl.
Author: Đani Ivančević
Anchoring is currently one of the greatest threats to these fragile habitats. When an anchor lands in a Posidonia meadow, it tears out the plant’s leaves and rhizomes, leaving scars on the seabed that remain visible for years.
Art as a tool for nature conservation
In Komiža, visitors will also experience the audiovisual projection “Adriatic Treasures”, created as part of the ASPEH project. The light show takes audiences on a journey through the Adriatic’s remarkable marine habitats and species, revealing both the richness and vulnerability of the underwater world.
– From mysterious underwater caves and Posidonia meadows to the open sea, seabirds and coastal habitats, the light show reminds us that every species counts and every habitat plays a vital role in maintaining the delicate balance of life in the Adriatic, – says Vida Zrnčić, ASPEH project manager at Sunce.
While those ecological problems are serious, the goal of the event is not to overwhelm audiences with statistics, but to inspire an emotional connection with nature.
By combining art and innovative technology, the light shows make the invisible visible, because protecting the sea begins with understanding it.
Meet the Sunce team and win prizes
Alongside the light shows, visitors will have the opportunity to meet the Sunce team and learn more about the organisation’s long-standing work in marine conservation. An information stand will provide insights into the BIOPRESSADRIA and ASPEH projects, their activities and the challenges facing Adriatic marine habitats.
Visitors will also be able to take photos in front of a Posidonia-themed photo wall. Those who share their photos or Instagram Stories and tag Sunce will receive themed prizes, while anyone wishing to support future conservation efforts will be able to make a donation.
Author: Đani Ivančević
The programme is not intended only for adults. Children and young people will also be able to take part in interactive STEM workshops organised through the project Sailing into STEM – A Map for 2030.
– Through games, hands-on experiments and interactive educational activities, children and young people will learn about marine conservation, marine pollution, microplastics and the everyday actions each of us can take to protect the environment, – announces Sunce educator Vana Marta Grljušić.
Nature protection starts with each of us
The event is organised in cooperation with the Hvar Town Tourist Board, Town of Hvar, HVAR 1612 Public Cultural Institution, Komiža Tourist Board and the Town of Komiža, who all recognise the importance of initiatives that enrich island life while encouraging a more responsible relationship with nature.
Author: Đani IvančevićAutor: Đani Ivančević
– If you missed Posidonia in Hvar or Korčula last year, this is your chance to experience its story. And if you’ve already met this remarkable plant, come and listen again – perhaps this time with someone who still doesn’t know why this humble seagrass is essential for the future of the Adriatic, – says Bruna Tomić, Expert Associate at Communications and Advocacy Department at Sunce.
