We’ve been featured as one of the top 10 European spacetech startups to watch in 2025 by four European VC funds! These funds recognised our work and selected SeaCras as one of their top picks, which they shared with Sifted, Europe’s leading startup media brand, backed by the world-renowned Financial Times.
This recognition places SeaCras among Europe’s top spacetech innovators using satellite technology that tackle pressing global environmental challenges.
Our Coastal Intelligence system delivers scalable, non-invasive solutions for climate security aspects, including pollution detection, waterway monitoring, and the identification of ecosystem threats for public and CBRNE applications. All this is made possible by using satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to monitor and protect marine and coastal environments.
What this means is that these insights empower decision-makers to respond faster to climate risks and take action to protect marine biodiversity more effectively.
With over 630,000 startups in its database, Siftedtracks the most promising ventures shaping Europe’s innovation landscape. Of these, around 500 operate in the fast-growing spacetech sector. SeaCras’ selection as a standout company highlights our strong vision and impactful environmental mission.
The recognition has also gained local and regional attention, with many Croatian media outlets and news portals featuring SeaCras’ achievement. We’re thankful for being highlighted to represent the region on the European innovation map and for developing technology that can contribute to global sustainability efforts from our base in Croatia.
Also, we’re immensely proud to be developing solutions that are not only crucial for the Mediterranean but have global significance. Being named among the top 10 spacetech startups by the VCs confirms the value of our mission — to make coastlines more resilient through data, science, and innovation.
Finally, this milestone marks a major step forward for SeaCras, affirming our place as a key player in the future of environmental monitoring and coastal intelligence.
Our CEO, Mario Špadina, PhD, gave an interview to Slobodna Dalmacija after SeaCras was the first and only one to detect the Hvar oil spill!
Given the upcoming tourist season, it goes without saying we need to prevent such incidents, or at least predict them as early as possible.
That’s why, with our innovative early detection system, developed using satellite data, we are able to identify pollution while it is still in its initial phase. This system enables a rapid response that helps minimize damage and prevent long-term negative consequences for the marine ecosystem.
SeaCras technology enables the detection of large polluted areas, which is something that wasn’t possible before, and provides a chance for rapid intervention.
What we at SeaCras stand for is the proactive protection of the marine environment, as we believe that preserving the Adriatic Sea is the responsibility of all of us – institutions, the private sector and citizens.
For example, mass tourism is a topic that’s often mentioned in the context of pollution, and for a good reason. Tourism is one of the key sectors of our economy, so it’s essential that we maintain it at a high level, while at the same time pay attention to the protection of the sea as our greatest resource. It is clear that the large influx of tourists that we’ve had for years leads to major pollution events in the Adriatic.
The pollution off the coast of Hvar island was covered in a large number of media. Thank you to everyone who recognized the importance of this topic!
Our mission is to provide users with clear guidelines on the areas that are most sensitive and where it’s necessary to take precautions. There is no single answer to the question of what to do, because this largely depends on the specifics of the location, its size and various other factors. Therefore, our goal is to help everyone understand what they need to do and on time.
Pollution will always be there and it’s not easy to fight it, but the right measure is proactive preparation and preventive measures, at least with a year in advance. This is the reality we (have to) live with.
Big thanks to Slobodna Dalmacija for this interview and for recognizing the importance of our efforts in preservation of the Adriatic Sea as the most valuable resource of Croatia.
Using the SeaCras’s Coastal Intelligence system, which integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and satellite technologies, a thin layer petroleum derivative (fuel) slick was detected in the wider port area of Hvar, including part of the adjacent coastal waters. Here’s more about the recent Hvar oil spill in the article below.
According to the criteria outlined in Annex I of the MARPOL Convention (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, IMO), the identified pollution event qualifies as an accidental oil spill in the coastal zone.
In accordance with the Maritime Domain and Seaports Act (Official Gazette 83/23) and the Environmental Protection Act (Official Gazette 80/13, 153/13, 78/15, 12/18, 118/18), such an incident constitutes environmental degradation and mandates an appropriate assessment and response.
Note: This study refers exclusively to an internal study conducted by SEA CRAS d.o.o. The results will be published by the company’s scientific team in the form of a peer-reviewed scientific paper. The goal of this activity is to contribute to the conservation of the marine environment and ecosystem of the Republic of Croatia, and to enhance preparedness for future incidents, which, given the maritime traffic density of the Adriatic Sea, are likely.
Through the use of SeaCras proprietary technology, it was established that the spill consists of a petroleum derivative dispersed in an extremely thin surface film. The oil slick was observed on April 24, 2025, at 12:05 PM local time, in the area between the islet of Gališnik and the island of Hvar.
The spatial extent of the detected slick outside the Hvar port basin covers approximately 8 hectares (80,000 m²), and is illustrated in Figure 1.
Croatia and many of EU Member states still lack adequate monitoring capabilities for sudden pollution events affecting its territorial sea and internal waters
In the context of globally documented cases, it is important to emphasize that oil slicks of such small surface area are nearly undetectable using conventional monitoring methods. Specifically, the CleanSeaNet program of the European Commission, based on Sentinel-1 satellite radar (SAR) data, is incapable of detecting such phenomena for several reasons:
The spatial resolution of the available SAR data is insufficient – results are often too coarse for precise detection.
The use of Sentinel-1 radar imagery is not effective in enclosed, highly indented coastal zones, such as the waters around the Port of Hvar.
Complex coastlines like Croatia’s are characterised by diverse bathymetric and benthic properties and are full of small bays, narrow channels, and rocks in the sea, all of which hinder the use of traditional or most existing solutions available on the market.
Through the application of its proprietary technology, based on ultra-high spatial resolution satellite imagery analysis and AI-driven algorithms, SeaCras successfully detected petroleum derivative pollution in the form of an extremely thin surface film, covering a relatively small area compared to typical large-scale oil spills.
Nevertheless, even such a small detected slick constitutes an ecological incident with potentially long-term impacts on the marine environment of the area.
The SeaCras scientific team will continue with a detailed analysis of this incident and will propose mitigation and response measures aimed at protecting the wider affected marine area.
Discussions about protecting the environment and preserving natural resources as well as warnings about the growing soil, air, and marine pollution, along with environmental degradation, is becoming an increasingly prominent topic in public discourse.
These initiatives, debates, and educational efforts are vital as they remind us of our responsibility to future generations. Through collective efforts, innovation, and sustainable practices, we can lay the foundation for a healthier and cleaner environment.
It’s expected that a quarry located near the coastline would have some impact on the seabed and water column. However, several questions remain:
1) Can we accurately assess the extent of this impact? 2) Can we provide quantitative evidence to support the term “ecocide”? 3) Moreover, is the damage localized, or does its influence extend far beyond?
Even a quick glance at Google Maps reveals that the shallow waters near the shore are covered in fine sediments originating from the quarry. Yet, beneath the surface lies a wealth of details that the naked eye cannot detect.
We conducted a study using our AI-powered analysis of high-resolution satellite data to examine the quarry’s impact on the marine water column. Some results are presented in images 1) and 2).
Image 1) Satellite image of the Pučišća area on the island of Brač (left) and a thematic map showing the quantitative measurement of suspended matter concentration in the water column using SeaCras AI algorithms, dated November 8, 2024 (right).
Image 1) shows a scenario of relatively calm weather with no wind.
Image 2) Satellite image of the Pučišća area on the island of Brač (left) and a thematic map showing the quantitative measurement of suspended matter concentration in the water column using SeaCras AI algorithms, dated November 15, 2024 (right).
Image 2) depicts conditions under the influence of strong bora wind, blowing from the northeast (NE), across the wider area of the island Brač.
The true scope of the problem becomes evident in image 2). The results from our AI analysis quantitatively demonstrate a dramatic increase in suspended matter concentration in the water column. The measured concentration of suspended matter in the middle of the bay (image 2)) is five times higher than that observed in image 1), on dates where there is no wind. Furthermore, near the southern shore, this increase exceeds tenfold.
Additionally, the zone of impact is quantifiable and encompasses the entire bay, revealing a much broader area of influence than what local residents might observe!
The root cause of this issue, which likely occurs periodically, is the strong bora wind carrying material from the quarry located on the northeastern side of the island. The bora spreads this material across a wider area, with a significant portion ending up in the sea, covering the entire bay with substantial deposits.
This natural phenomenon of marine pollution is further exacerbated by urbanization, which often results in larger amounts of inadequately managed construction and industrial waste. This compromises seawater quality and disrupts the natural balance of the marine ecosystem. Our solutions for detecting and monitoring marine turbidityleverage advanced satellite technology and data analytics to precisely track the impacts of such events. This enables timely access to critical information necessary for implementing environmental conservation measures and sustainable coastal management.
Over the years, the cumulative effect has been devastating to the marine environment, as deposits ‘smother’ the seabed and degrade its habitat. While physicochemical indicators of seawater quality periodically point to poor conditions, microbiological quality remains unaffected by these influences.
Using our technology, we addressed all the aforementioned questions and concluded that this represents a form of slow ecocide. However, it is also crucial to recognize that traditional environmental and impact assessments, while based on textbook knowledge, often fail to anticipate unexpected scenarios, particularly in the context of climate change.
Effectively addressing the devastation of marine ecosystems, the impacts of human activities, climate change, pollution, and the degradation of the biosphere on a broader scale requires a comprehensive and strategic approach. Key components of such an approach include continuous monitoring, trend analysis, and the prediction of future scenarios, all grounded in the use of advanced technologies like environmental digital twins. These tools enable precise tracking, comparison, and modeling of future impacts, providing a solid foundation for sustainable and effective decision-making.
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!
