Kiera Jefferson
The Adriatic Sea is at risk of becoming a water desert due to overfishing, bottom trawling, pollution, and climate change. Eighty percent of marine pollution comes from land runoff, including septic tanks, cars, trucks, boats, and agriculture. The Adriatic is particularly vulnerable to pollution due to its semi-enclosed nature, weak currents, and long retention of water masses. Plastic waste accounts for 80-90% of the waste in the Adriatic, threatening marine life, coastal communities, and the economies of Adriatic states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pollution | The Adriatic Sea is one of the most polluted seas in Europe. |
| Source of Pollution | More than 90% of the plastic and other waste washing up on Croatia's coasts comes from southern Europe, particularly Albania. |
| Impact | The pollution is having devastating consequences for marine life, coastal communities, and the economies of Adriatic states such as Montenegro. It also poses a threat to human health. |
| Species at Risk | One of the most threatened species in the Adriatic is the sea turtle. Research suggests that 35% of dead loggerhead sea turtles had waste found in their digestive systems. |
| Other Sources of Pollution | Mercury mining in Idrija, runoff from septic tanks, cars, trucks, boats, agriculture, and engine oil. |
| Action Needed | There is a strong need to better comprehend the dispersion of pollutants and develop regulations and research to address the issue. |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic pollution
The Adriatic Sea is prone to plastic pollution, which is one of the most significant environmental challenges threatening the sea's health and ecosystem. The sea collects about one-third of all the freshwater flowing into the Mediterranean, mainly via the river Po, which has been identified as a major contributor of plastic pollution to the Adriatic Sea.
The Adriatic Sea is considered one of the most polluted seas in Europe, with plastic accounting for 80-90% of the waste in the sea. The waste is generated by the approximately four million people who live along the Adriatic coast, a number that increases six-fold during the summer months due to tourism. The highest amount of waste per capita, eight kilograms per year, is generated from Montenegro. The semi-closed nature of the Adriatic basin, with its weak currents and long retention of water masses, makes it particularly vulnerable to persistent plastic pollution.
Plastic waste in the Adriatic Sea has severe consequences for marine life, coastal communities, and the economies of Adriatic states. Plastic pollution has been linked to infertility, inflammation, and cancer in wildlife and laboratory animals. It also poses a threat to endangered species in the Adriatic, such as sea turtles, which are attracted to plastic bags due to the bacteria and algae that accumulate on them. Overfishing is another issue in the Adriatic Sea, with 120 species threatened by commercial fishing, a problem that is exacerbated by pollution and global warming.
The plastic waste in the Adriatic Sea comes from various sources, including single-use or disposable plastic objects, which have become prevalent in everyday life. More than 90% of the plastic waste washing up on Croatia's coasts comes from southern Europe, particularly Albania. The Albanian government has recognized the issue and announced an investigation into plastic pollution, but no conclusions have been reached. Additionally, the Adriatic Sea receives wastewater from agricultural drainage, cities, and rivers, contributing to the excessive input of nutrients that threaten the ecosystem.
Addressing plastic pollution in the Adriatic Sea is crucial for protecting the environment, fish stocks, local communities, and the long-term appeal of the region to tourists. Regional projects with World Bank support are in place to address future pollution hazards and assess pollution hotspots, but more concerted efforts are needed to tackle the issue effectively.
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Pollution from southern Europe
The Adriatic Sea is one of the most polluted seas in Europe. It is vulnerable to persistent pollution due to its nature as a semi-closed basin with weak currents and long retention of water masses. The pollution in the Adriatic Sea comes from several sources, including runoff from land, rivers, and southern European countries, particularly Albania.
Runoff from Land and Rivers
According to the Slovenian National Institute of Biology (NIB), eighty percent of marine pollution comes from the land. This includes runoff from various sources such as septic tanks, cars, trucks, boats, agriculture, and engine oil. Dirt, top soil, and silt from fields or construction sites can also run off into waterways, contributing to water pollution. The Adriatic Sea is particularly susceptible to the dispersion of pollutants due to its coastline, which is located along major rivers such as the Po River.
More than 90% of the plastic and other waste washing up on Croatia's coasts originates from southern Europe, especially Albania. Plastic waste from the Mediterranean Sea often enters the Adriatic Sea through the Strait of Otranto due to currents and the shallowness of the sea. This has led to the Adriatic Sea being declared one of the most polluted seas in Europe, with plastic accounting for 80-90% of the waste. The Bay of Kotor, located in Montenegro, is particularly threatened by pollution, and the country generates the highest amount of waste per capita in the Mediterranean, with devastating consequences for its environment, fish stocks, and tourism appeal.
Impact on Marine Life
The pollution in the Adriatic Sea has severe consequences for marine life, with the sea turtle being one of the most threatened species. Research published in Current Biology suggests that plastic bags are attractive to turtles due to the bacteria and algae that accumulate on them. As a result, waste has been found in the digestive systems of dead loggerhead sea turtles, the dominant species of turtle in the Adriatic.
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Overfishing and bottom trawling
The Adriatic Sea, known for its pristine waters and diverse marine life, has faced significant environmental challenges in recent decades, with overfishing and bottom trawling being key concerns. Overfishing has been a persistent issue in the Adriatic, with valuable fish species being targeted intensively due to their high market demand. This includes species such as sea bream, sea bass, and various types of grouper, which are sought after by both local and international markets. The excessive and uncontrolled fishing of these species has led to a decline in their populations, disrupting the delicate balance of the Adriatic's ecosystem.
Bottom trawling is another detrimental practice that has scarred the sea floor and further contributed to the decline of fish populations. This method of fishing involves dragging large nets across the seabed, indiscriminately capturing everything in their path, including juvenile fish and other marine organisms that are not the intended target. The heavy trawling gear also damages habitats on the sea floor, such as coral reefs and sponge beds, which provide essential shelter and breeding grounds for many species. These fragile ecosystems are slow to recover, and their destruction has long-lasting impacts on the diversity and abundance of marine life in the Adriatic.
The combination of overfishing and bottom trawling has had cascading effects on the Adriatic's ecosystem. Removing large numbers of target species not only reduces their populations but also disrupts the complex web of interactions between different organisms. This can lead to imbalances in the food web, with potential increases in competitor species or the proliferation of prey items, ultimately altering the entire ecosystem dynamics. Additionally, the removal of key species can have repercussions throughout the food chain, affecting higher trophic levels such as seabirds and marine mammals that depend on these fish as a primary food source.
To address these issues, sustainable fishing practices and effective management strategies are crucial. Implementing measures such as catch limits, protected areas, and seasonal closures can help regulate fishing activities and allow fish stocks to recover. Promoting selective fishing gear and eco-friendly fishing methods can also minimize the impact on non-target species and reduce habitat damage. Educating fishermen, stakeholders, and the general public about the importance of sustainable fishing practices is vital to gain support and ensure compliance with conservation measures.
In recent years, there have been efforts to mitigate the impacts of overfishing and bottom trawling in the Adriatic. Marine protected areas (MPAs) have been established, such as the Jabuka/Pomo Pit MPA, which covers an area of over 2,600 square kilometers and prohibits bottom trawling and other damaging fishing practices. These protected areas provide safe havens for fish spawning and nursing, contributing to the replenishment of fish stocks. Additionally, initiatives promoting responsible and sustainable fishing practices, such as eco-labels and consumer awareness campaigns, are gaining traction, encouraging fishermen to adopt more environmentally friendly methods.
Overall, the future of the Adriatic Sea depends on a balanced and sustainable approach to fishing. By recognizing the value of the sea's biodiversity and the importance of maintaining healthy fish populations, we can work towards preserving the Adriatic's ecological integrity for future generations to enjoy. Through continued research, effective management, and collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and local communities, we can address the issues of overfishing and bottom trawling, ensuring the long-term viability of the Adriatic's rich marine resources.
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Mercury pollution
The Adriatic Sea is characterised by large cinnabar deposits, accounting for about 65% of the world's mercury reserves. Data on mercury concentrations in the Adriatic Sea is limited, but studies have found that the highest values occur in the Northern part of the Adriatic basin and are mainly related to anthropic activities. The average mercury concentration in the Adriatic Sea sediment was 0.053 mg/Kg, with a range of 0.011–0.12 mg/Kg. These values are well below the regulatory limit of 0.3 mg/kg set by the Environmental Quality Standard Water Framework.
The Marine Biology Station (MBS), part of the Slovenian National Institute of Biology (NIB), is working to better understand the circulation of the Adriatic Sea and the dispersion of pollutants. MBS has developed a high-resolution ocean model, ADRIPOM, which allows for the tracking of coastal tracer dispersion and the movement of pollutants along the coast. This technology will help monitor and address mercury pollution in the Adriatic Sea.
The Minamata Convention on Mercury aims to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of measures to reduce the impact of Hg pollution. The convention focuses on fish, sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals, and global data is compiled in the Global Biotic Mercury Synthesis (GBMS) database to track Hg concentrations. This framework is essential for understanding and mitigating the effects of mercury pollution in vulnerable regions like the Adriatic Sea.
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Lack of regulation
The Adriatic Sea is one of the most polluted seas in Europe, with plastic accounting for 80-90% of the waste in its waters. The pollution is caused by the four million people who live along the Adriatic coast, a number that increases six-fold during the summer months due to tourism. The highest amount of waste per capita comes from Montenegro, which generates eight kilograms of waste per person per year.
The pollution in the Adriatic Sea is a result of a lack of regulation and insufficient national funds for scientific research. There is a strong need to better understand the dispersion of pollutants, as major rivers, such as the Po, end up in the Adriatic, and many cities are located along its coastline. The Slovenian National Institute of Biology's Marine Biology Station (MBS) is the only institution in Slovenia dedicated to marine research and monitoring seawater quality. MBS has developed a high-resolution ocean model, ADRIPOM, to track coastal tracer dispersion and follow pollutant filaments along the coast. However, their research is limited to the dispersion of toxic mercury in the Gulf of Trieste.
The lack of legal regulations dealing with marine debris is a significant concern, as the accumulation of waste has devastating consequences for marine life, coastal communities, and the economies of Adriatic states. One of the most threatened species in the Adriatic is the sea turtle, as plastic bags smell like a delicacy to them due to the bacteria and algae that accumulate on them. Research has shown that of 54 dead loggerhead sea turtles (the dominant species in the Adriatic), waste was found in the digestive systems of 35% of them.
The Bay of Kotor, a semi-closed basin with weak currents and long retention of water masses, is particularly vulnerable to persistent pollution and is only partially protected. The Adriatic Sea is at risk of turning into a water desert due to overfishing, bottom trawling, pollution, and climate change, which seriously threaten its biodiversity.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Adriatic Sea is one of the most polluted seas in Europe.
The pollution is caused by a variety of factors, including plastic waste from southern Europe, overfishing, bottom trawling, and climate change. The waste is generated by the four million people who live along the Adriatic coast, and this number increases six-fold during the summer months due to tourism.
The pollution is having devastating consequences on marine life, coastal communities, and the economies of Adriatic states such as Montenegro and Croatia. It is also threatening the biodiversity of the Adriatic, with one of the most affected species being the sea turtle.
Efforts are being made to better understand and monitor the pollution in the Adriatic Sea. For example, the Marine Biology Station (MBS) in Piran, Slovenia, has developed a high-resolution ocean model called ADRIPOM that tracks pollutants along the coast. However, more action is needed at the state level, including legal regulations and increased funding for scientific research.
