In the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Croatia, scientists are demanding action to protect environmentally important meadows of seagrass.

Telašćica Nature Park

Scientists in Croatia are raising concerns over the decline of Posidonia oceanica, a seagrass species vital to the Adriatic Sea's ecosystem. The seagrass, which can absorb significantly more carbon dioxide than the Amazon rainforest per area, has seen a 30% reduction over recent decades due to human activities such as tourist anchoring, trawling, and coastal development.

Efforts are underway to mitigate damage, including the installation of eco-friendly anchorages and calls for stricter regulations and fines. Additional threats to the seagrass include pollution, nutrient runoff, climate change, and invasive species, prompting scientists to demand urgent action to preserve these important underwater meadows.

Croatian scientists fight to protect Posidonia seagrass

Scientists say these meadows of seagrass can soak up to 15 times more carbon dioxide than a similar-sized piece of the Amazon rainforest over the course of a year. On a Croatian island in the Adriatic Sea, scientists have been on a diving mission to assess the damage inflicted by human activity. Named after Greek god Poseidon, Posidonia oceanica is commonly known as Mediterranean tapeweed. It is exceptionally important because it provides shelter for economically important fish species, reduces coastal erosion by reducing wave power, produces large amounts of oxygen and is responsible for the transparency of the sea, the transparency of the Adriatic Sea. That's Mateja Spajka, a senior associate at Croatia's Sunce Environmental Protection Association. She says Mediterranean Posidonia has declined by 30% in the last 30 to 40 years. She's among many scientists saying much more needs to be done to protect it from tourist anchoring and from trawlers dragging fishing nets in the waters of the Adriatic. Dominic Mihaljevic is a biologist at Kornati National Park, an archipelago that surrounds the meadows. He says the park has begun to install more eco-friendly anchorages that would not harm the seagrass. Our ultimate goal is to completely prohibit anchoring at the 19 anchorage locations that are currently in use. Scientists want to see tougher regulations and fines for anyone breaching them. New ports and artificial beaches have also blocked sunlight, essential for Posidonia's growth. Chemicals, excess nutrients from farms and cities, warmer waters due to climate change and invasive species have all caused further damage.

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