On Friday, September 26, the Great Revelin in Korčula was transformed into a canvas of light on which Posidonia told its story. After Hvar, the people of Korčula also enjoyed the unique light show organized by Sunce, dedicated to this seagrass that has been shaping and protecting the Adriatic for thousands of years.
From 8 to 11 p.m., locals and visitors alike had the opportunity to experience and reflect on the question: And where do I anchor?. The projection’s author, Tomislav Brđanović, emphasized that this was the first AI film of its kind in Croatia.
– Months of work and experimenting with technology opened up entirely new possibilities for promoting sea protection. I plan to submit this work to film festivals, as I believe this story must go beyond the project itself and spread around the world, – said Tomislav.
The light spectacle moved the audience to tears
The atmosphere was charged with emotion. Some locals couldn’t hold back their tears as they remembered their childhood and the sea as it once was, while children learned for the first time that Posidonia produces oxygen and gives life to the sea.
– Thank God someone is raising awareness about Posidonia. No one realizes how slowly it grows, and yet it can be destroyed in a moment, – said one visitor after the light show.
– Thank you so much for this video and everything you do. I will share this video with everyone, – added another. You too can share this video, available on our YouTube channel.
One woman from Korčula was particularly touched:
– Although we all need fast information, this video could have been even longer. It brought me to tears. We live here and know how it once was and how it is today. What is happening around Badija is a tragedy, – she said, visibly moved.
– This is the area with the most severe damage to seagrass meadows I have ever seen, – confirmed Karla Jelić from Sunce, who recently dove at that very site.
Alongside the light show, visitors could explore Sunce’s stands, collect informational materials, and learn more about the organization’s work and ways to get involved. Many had questions, such as: What is the difference between Posidonia and the invasive alga Caulerpa taxifolia?
– Caulerpa spreads when Posidonia is damaged and then takes over its habitat. It is an invasive species that provides no ecological benefit, while Posidonia offers multiple benefits. That’s why it is a key habitat we must protect, – explained Ana Jeramaz from the Public Institution for the Management of Protected Nature Areas of Dubrovnik-Neretva County.
And where do you anchor?
A special highlight was the Posidonia photo corner, where visitors took pictures that many later shared on social media, along with messages of gratitude and calls for sea protection.
Passersby learned that Posidonia plays a crucial role in preserving marine ecosystems. It stabilizes the seabed, increases water clarity, and acts as an indicator of the overall health of the underwater world. Its meadows are true underwater oxygen factories, reduce the power of waves, and protect coastlines from erosion. And what it provides goes far deeper than what we can imagine at first glance.
That anchoring in Posidonia is a serious issue was also confirmed by a group of boaters from Karlovac who attended the final screening of the film:
– The most beautiful bays often don’t have mooring buoys. Could ecological buoys be installed so these bays always remain as beautiful? – asked one boater.
– In Kornati National Park there are 136 ecological buoys available free of charge with a purchased park ticket, and we believe the same should be established around Badija. We think it is urgent to create a mooring system and regulate anchoring in that area, – said representatives from Sunce.
This event was organized as part of the Interreg project BIOPRESSADRIA, through which Sunce and its partners from Croatia and Italy are developing strategies to reduce the negative impact of tourism on coastal and marine biodiversity. Special support for the Korčula light show was provided by the Public Institution for the Management of Protected Nature Areas of Dubrovnik-Neretva County, the City of Korčula, and the Korčula Tourist Board.
