The algal bloom — this whole summer, reports from swimmers and local fishermen about the ‘sludge’ along the northern Adriatic coastline have been making headlines in Croatian media — and both visitors and locals alike are displeased and eager for the waters to return to normal.
SeaCras brings a series of high-resolution images of the Poreč area, clearly showing the scope of the issue. Red indicates extreme conditions, yellow points to significant issues, and blue represents normal sea conditions.
But ‘mare sporco’, or extreme algal blooms, have been around for a while. For science enthusiasts, here’s a Nature article dating all the way back to 1932.
It’s imperative that we expand the network for monitoring certain sea biochemical parameters at the level of territorial waters and fill the gaps in continuous and reliable data delivery suitable for addressing abrupt weather changes and man-made influences — and with that, allow the local community and tourists who visit these destinations to have easy-to-use resources that help them avoid the ’blooming’ areas.
Only by combining data on the multitude of environmental and anthropogenic factors can we be able to forecast future events such as this one, the algal bloom of summer 2024.
SeaCras has been recognized by the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) in their latest report, with a special mention of CEO, Mario Špadina, in the executive summary. At the EMODnet conference that took place in September, our CEO highlighted SeaCras’s expertise in sustainable coastal water monitoring using high-resolution satellite technology.
The company was recognized for its innovative approach, leveraging EMODnet’s resources and open-source data to reduce R&D costs by calibrating satellite imagery with auxiliary data.
Covering 1,600 square kilometres of coastal waters, SeaCras provides pollutant detection, biochemical monitoring, and seabed mapping, serving port authorities, nature parks, and the coastal tourism and maritime transport sectors.
One of more famous used cases is Croatia’s Telašćica Nature Park where SeaCras data distinguishes between man-made and natural effects, helping to protect vulnerable waters from boating impacts. As a company, we strive to address the gaps in water monitoring by offering data-driven insights into human activity and climate change impacts.
Despite the limitations of field sampling in Croatia, SeaCras is actively pushing for reforms in legal frameworks to incorporate new technologies and better integrate marine data into coastal management practices.
SeaCras technology is ready for immediate deployment and offers the potential to significantly enhance the scope and frequency of data collection. This includes expanding coverage of descriptor D5 and D7 marine data, alongside a broad range of physical marine data, ultimately improving our ability to monitor and manage coastal environments.
By simplifying complex data into user-friendly visualisations, SeaCras ensures that marine information is accessible to non-experts, supporting coastal communities to make better decisions.
We are honoured to have been recognised for having a vital role in the marine data industry and our commitment to innovation and environmental protection.
Together with Zadar Cruise Port — GPH, we’ve implemented a unique app that allows the local community, cruise guests and all interested individuals to track sea quality indicators and potential pollution indicators in Zadar’s passenger port!
Via QR codes strategically placed across the passenger terminal, users can easily access the app from their mobile phones and other devices and examine sea quality data, with no additional costs or third parties involved.
“Monitoring the quality of seawater is of crucial importance for preserving marine ecosystems, protecting public health, and supporting sustainable economic activities,” stated Rebeka V. Pevec, MBA, General Manager of Zadar Cruise Port.
The main goal of this collaboration is to achieve transparency in monitoring the impact of large cruise ships on the coastal waters and to ensure effective environmental protection of the marine ecosystem in Zadar County.
“Only by using a holistic approach can we transform existing business models and achieve the long-term sustainable use and preservation of the marine environment,” said Mario Špadina, CEO of SeaCras.
Sincere thanks to Zadar Cruise Port for the exceptional teamwork — we look forward to carrying on the successful partnership and joint work on monitoring the quality and sustainability of the marine environment!
We are honoured to have been invited to present our work at a workshop titled EMODnet Marine Data for the Coastal Tourism Sector (26-27 September), which was co-organised by the European Commission Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) and the European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet).
During the session Use cases of open-source EMODnet and wider data and data products to support, optimise, and innovate the coastal tourism sector, our CEO, Mario Špadina, talked about his efforts over the last couple of years in bringing marine data and satellite technologies to coastal tourism in Croatia, with the goal of sustainable marine resource management.
Driven by a scientific mindset, Mario focused on constructive feedback, primarily within our own sector of industry and academia, and explained how integrated biochemical and physical marine data, along with surveillance and anthropogenic activity data, are used to deliver estimates of environmental pressures on coastal and remote areas. We showcased some marine protected areas, natural parks, Natura 2000 sites, as well as urbanized coastlines on islands.
Some of the more pronounced influences on Croatia’s coastal marine environment are nautical tourism and overpopulated coastlines during the touristic season, which add additional pressure on sewage water discharges.
Big thanks to the organisers and fellow presenters — the workshop was highly relevant and essential for the interconnected goals of restoring the marine environment and preserving coastal tourism.
