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Successful sea and coastal Cleanup event carried out in Tribunj

Posté le 22 mai 2025

United by a shared commitment to environmental stewardship, volunteers gathered today in the Fishing Port of Tribunj for a large-scale sea and coastal cleanup event. The event focused on removing waste from the waters of the port and the nearby Sv. Nikola pier, while also promoting community awareness and educating the next generation on the importance of marine conservation.

The initiative brought together 60 volunteers, including 10 divers, employees and members of the Adria Fishing Cooperative, local fishers, and numerous representatives from civil society and the local community. Participants included WWF Adria, LAG “More 249”, Vodice Volunteer Fire Department, Carretta Carretta Association, Mjesno poduzeće d.o.o. Tribunj, the Municipality and Tourist Board of Tribunj, Vodice Fire Department, and Sunce Organization.

Thanks to their collective efforts, 675 kilograms of waste - equivalent to 7 cubic meters - were removed from the sea and coastline. A particularly valuable contribution came from students of the Maritime School of Split, who, under the expert guidance of Tea Kuzmičić from Sunce Organization and professor Dafne Vlahović, conducted a waste monitoring process. This enabled a professional analysis of the collected materials, contributing to long-term data and research on marine pollution.

The event also featured an engaging educational program for children, involving 69 pupils from grades 1 to 4 of the Tribunj Primary School. Accompanied by four teachers, the children took part in creative workshops where they made bracelets from old fishing nets, painted buoys, and played educational games designed to raise awareness about protecting the marine environment. Their enthusiasm and curiosity were a powerful reminder that meaningful change often begins with the youngest voices.

In the afternoon, a panel discussion titled “Passive Catch, Active Responsibility: Policy and Practice in Fisheries” was held at the Tribunj Cultural Center. The panel was part of the FishNoWaste project led by the Sunce Organization and featured a diverse group of experts: Valentina Andrić, Head of the Fisheries Advisory Support Service at the Directorate of Fisheries; Dr. Pero Tutman from the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries; Božidar Blaslov, founder of the Provir project; Andrea Ivanković, marine biodiversity project officer at WWF Adria; and moderator Tea Kuzmičić Rosandić, Head of the Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Department at the Sunce Organization. The discussion highlighted the vital role of collaboration among science, industry, and civil society in safeguarding marine ecosystems.

The cleanup was organized by the Adria Fishing Cooperative with support from WWF Adria through the NETTAG+ project, part of the EU Mission: Ocean and Waters, funded by the Horizon Europe programme. NETTAG+ develops innovative solutions to prevent the loss of fishing gear, reduce marine litter, and protect vulnerable marine habitats.

This inspiring initiative once again demonstrated that collective action can lead to real, tangible progress toward a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Adriatic Sea.

NETTAG+ izrada narukvica