Croatia takes pride in its unique natural wealth, including 17 protected areas that encompass not only land but also the sea within its borders. These areas are protected in the categories of national park, special reserve, nature park, natural monument and important landscape. Strict protection zones that do not allow fishing and other forms of resource extraction have been established in Brijuni National Park, Kornati National Park, Mljet National Park and Telašćica Nature Park, but these are very small areas, with weak surveillance and enforcement of protection on the ground.
The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 calls for the protection of 30% of Europe’s marine area by 2030, including placing a third of this area under strict protection (10%) and the effective management of all marine protected areas, with particular attention to the regulation of human activities. Today, only 3% of the EU’s land and less than 1% of marine areas are strictly protected.
Challenges in protecting the marine areas of the Adriatic
If we want to restore our Adriatic Sea and fish stocks and respond to the global challenges of climate change, we need bold moves and a shared vision for the future of Croatia’s marine ecosystem.
Representatives of Sunce participated in the Planning Meeting for the Development of Cooperation with the Croatian Network of Marine Protected Areas (HRMZP) in Šibenik on November 14 of this year. HRMZP is an informal network established in 2021, as part of MedPAN (Mediterranean Network of Marine Protected Areas), with the aim of strengthening the protection of the marine ecosystem and creating a coherent network of protected areas on the Croatian side of the Adriatic. It brings together 15 public institutions that manage marine protected areas.
The strategic meeting was attended by more than 60 experts from various institutions involved in marine research and protection, including representatives of public institutions, the Ministry of environmental Protection and Green Transition, research institutes and NGOs.
It was highlighted that marine protected areas are under pressure from mass tourism, unsustainable fishing, waste and wastewater pollution, as well as climate change. These threats negatively affect marine and coastal habitats and species.
Consequently, HRMZP has identified key and priority activities for the future period. Special attention will be paid to establishing and monitoring the status of target marine habitat types, advocating sustainable practices, such as ecological anchoring, organizing and implementing coastal and underwater clean-up actions, and systematically monitoring marine litter. Intensive cooperation with other sectors is planned, as well as the establishment of working groups to ensure more effective protection and sustainable management in these areas. The plan is also to formalize the legal framework, which will enable application for project tenders and securing additional resources.
Online meetings will serve to exchange information among network members and coordinate activities. A website will also be created to increase the visibility of network activities and facilitate communication among members, partners and the public.
Sunce’s solutions to reduce pressure on the sea
Sunce has been working on prominent issues for many years and follows globally recognized good practices. One example of effective management and protection that serves as an inspiration is the Apo Marine Protected Area in the Philippines, known for successfully balancing nature conservation and sustainable resource use.
One of the main challenges in protecting marine areas in the Adriatic is insufficient surveillance. As part of the EFFICIENTN2K project, Sunce focuses on improving the effectiveness of protection implementation on the ground. This project included a thorough analysis of the legislative and institutional framework, we held specialist seminars for conservationists and information campaigns in key locations such as Zlatni Rat and Šćedro. Cross-border cooperation with other countries in the region will enable data sharing and joint measures that make surveillance more effective.
Intensive nautical tourism and free anchoring pose serious pressure on the marine ecosystems of the Adriatic, especially on sensitive seagrass meadows such as Posidonia. Sunce is addressing this issue in the BIOPRESSADRIA project, which promotes the establishment of ecological mooring systems and the regulation of anchoring in areas where Posidonia is widespread. This solution would reduce the negative impact on these important ecosystems and contribute to the sustainability of tourism and marine life.
There is a great pressure on biodiversity in the Adriatic, which is why it is important to develop common strategies for the conservation of natural heritage and landscapes. The ASPEH project aims to reduce this pressure by defining common tools for the conservation of protected species and habitats. Sunce is working within the framework of this project to raise awareness of key habitats and species, including submerged and partially submerged caves, muddy and sandy seabeds that are not covered by the sea at low tide, Posidonia meadows, ferruginous duck, kentish plover and loggerhead turtles. With the “Adriatic treasures” campaign, Sunce aims to educate the local community, tourists and young people, with a special focus on schools.
Collaboration leads to change
These projects are not only an example of how Sunce responds to the challenges of nature protection, but also how we actively contribute to global good practices in the protection of marine ecosystems. In cooperation with international partners and the implementation of innovative solutions, we strive to preserve the biological diversity of the Adriatic for future generations.
This meeting was a great opportunity to share those experiences and plan future cooperation on common challenges in marine conservation. In our 26 years of operation, a common approach has proven to be a winning formula for achieving change.
The meeting also gave us the opportunity to actively contribute to the formulation of strategies and concrete measures for the conservation of the Adriatic Sea, which, although it occupies only about 5.5% of the Mediterranean Sea’s surface, boasts exceptionally high biodiversity of ecosystems and species crucial for maintaining the balance of the marine environment. It is estimated that as much as 49% of the known life forms in the Mediterranean Sea live in the Adriatic Sea!
If you also want to contribute to the protection of the Adriatic, share this article on social networks or send us an inquiry at [email protected] because, remember, citizens can also be important allies in the conservation of our sea!