The Adriatic Sea is rich in biodiversity, and each of us can help preserve it. The main problems affecting life in the Adriatic are waste and pollution, climate change, rising sea temperatures, coastal development, maritime traffic, and overfishing.
As a result, some species have already disappeared, and others are seriously endangered and need protection.
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We must understand that the sea is not an inexhaustible resource and cannot endlessly renew itself. Therefore, we all need to take care of its preservation and the protection of endangered animals in the Adriatic Sea.
Noble Pen Shells
Noble pen shells are the largest shellfish in the Mediterranean and are often targeted by poachers. There are three types of pen shells in the Adriatic.
- Pinna nobilis: The largest Mediterranean shellfish, endemic to the Mediterranean Sea. It usually inhabits sedimentary seabeds with seagrass meadows, between 2 and 30 meters deep. It can grow up to 120 cm and is found throughout the Adriatic. It has an important role in the ecosystem as a seawater filter, and many species live on its shells.
Populations of noble pen shells are affected by a deadly infection causing mass die-offs, with mortality rates reaching 100% in many locations. Due to the drastic population decline, the noble pen shell has become critically endangered within just a year.
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In addition to the noble pen shell, two other pen shell species are recorded in the Adriatic:
- Pinna rudis: Known as the "rough pen shell" or "spiny pen shell"
- Atrina fragilis: Known as the "fragile pen shell," also strictly protected
Sea Cucumbers
There are 36 species of sea cucumbers in the Adriatic, with the most well-known being the black sea cucumber (Holothuria tubulosa) found along the entire coast.
Sea cucumbers play a crucial role in the marine ecosystem by processing sediment and ensuring bacterial balance.
They are mostly threatened by polluted water, and overfishing could disrupt their population balance.
Seahorses
Two seahorse species live in the Adriatic:
- Long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus)
- Short-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus)
Both species are strictly protected and are threatened by fishing, pollution, coastal development, destruction of algae and seagrass, and illegal collection as souvenirs.
Date Mussel
The date mussel (Lithophaga lithophaga) is an elongated shellfish that prefers rocky coasts and can grow up to 12 centimetres. Harvesting them is prohibited in Croatia.
They are not protected because they are an endangered species, but because collecting them requires breaking the rocky coast, and destroying the entire ecological system.
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Sea Urchins
The needle-spined sea urchin (Diadema setosum) is a strictly protected species with a small shell and very long spines that can reach 30 centimetres. It lives at depths of 40 to 210 meters.
Other sea urchin species found closer to the coast are not strictly protected, but their commercial harvesting requires a permit.
Barrel Snail
The barrel snail (Tonna galea) is one of the largest Adriatic snails with a large, barrel-shaped shell, pale greyish-yellow to brown.
The snail itself has a white body covered with black spots, and its attractive appearance makes it a target for poachers, so it is listed as a strictly protected species.
Triton’s Trumpet
Triton’s trumpet (Charonia spp.) is another large Adriatic snail. It has an elongated spindle-shaped shell, usually colourless with wavy brown-red spots and slightly bulging bumps.
It can be found on rocky surfaces and at depths greater than 100 meters.
Corals
The Adriatic is home to about fifty coral species, with the most famous and beautiful being protected. The most notable is the red coral, endangered due to its beauty and commercial value.
The red coral (Corallium rubrum) looks like a plant but is actually a mineral composed of thousands of tiny animals. Its beautiful colour and unique appearance make it a desirable material for jewellery, leading to systematic harvesting and habitat destruction.
Mediterranean Monk Seal
The Mediterranean monk seal is one of the most endangered mammals in the world. These peaceful and gentle animals have lived in the Adriatic for centuries, and people call them the "sea man" or "sea bear."
Marine Mammals
All marine mammals, including the most common dolphins and whales, are protected by Croatian and international laws.
They are particularly threatened by human impacts on their habitats, pollution, and tourism. Any deliberate disturbance, capture, holding, injuring, or killing of marine mammals in the Adriatic is a criminal offence.
They are most endangered by gillnets in which they get entangled and boat propellers that create loud noises, driving dolphins away from the area. Therefore, certain rules should be followed when encountering dolphins.
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Do not chase them, and boats should not be directed straight towards them. If approaching them, do so very slowly and carefully, avoiding sudden changes in direction and not making noise. It's best to turn off the engine and not stay near them for more than 30 minutes. No more than one boat should be within 100 meters of the dolphins, and no more than three boats within 200 meters.
This category also includes all other whale species found in the Adriatic Sea.
Sea Turtles
Sea turtles are ancient reptiles that inhabit seas and oceans, with three species present in the Adriatic.
The most famous is the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), which can grow up to 115 kilograms and live around 60 years. They are threatened by habitat loss, egg poaching, mass tourism, trawling, and capture for the food industry.
Other protected Adriatic sea turtles include the green turtle and the leatherback turtle.
Fish
The Adriatic is known for its diverse fish species, with about 440 species living in its waters. Unfortunately, their numbers are not large, with 123 fish species endangered and 5 critically endangered. Among the most strictly protected are certain species of sharks and rays.
Common Jellyfish in the Adriatic Sea
Sponges
Sponges are simple animals made up of cells that depend on each other. They do not form organs or tissues but create various structures as clusters of individual cells.
Seagrasses
In the Adriatic, four strictly protected species of seagrasses create "underwater meadows”. The largest areas are covered by Posidonia oceanica, which grows at depths of up to 35 meters.
Posidonia meadows enrich the sea with oxygen, earning them the nickname "the lungs of the sea”.
These meadows are extremely sensitive due to their slow growth. Several square meters of destroyed meadows will not recover within a human lifetime. They are particularly threatened by nautical tourism and sailors who plow these green meadows with their anchors, irresponsible fishermen using trawl nets, coastal development, fish farming in cages, and pollution.
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Invasive tropical green algae, such as Caulerpa taxifolia and Caulerpa racemosa, have also entered the Adriatic, assisted by nautical tourism and anchoring ropes. These algae compete directly with Posidonia for living space.
Penalties for Violation
Strict penalties exist for the harvesting and destruction of these species, ranging from €1,000 to €30,000. Additionally, anyone who kills, destroys, possesses, captures, or takes an individual of a strictly protected animal species against the regulations can face up to three years in prison.
By being aware and taking action to protect these species, we can all contribute to the conservation of the Adriatic Sea's rich and diverse marine life.
