Project duration: 08/2023 – 06/2024 

Status: ON-GOING 

The challenge 

Marine litter represents one of the fastest growing threats to the Adriatic Sea with a large environmental and economic consequence, and a large part of its volume is plastic waste. According to the assessment of the main findings on the environmental quality and pollution of the Adriatic the level of floating litters in the Adriatic is relatively higher compared to the rest of Mediterranean Sea and there is important share of plastic (>80%) among landed debris (litters). Globally, the problem of marine waste stands out as one of the three biggest threats to marine ecosystems. 

The solution

The project aims to contribute to the provision of data on distribution of marine waste through education and strengthening the capacity of local island communities and organizations for implementation of clean up actions and implementation of monitoring. A network of local initiatives/associations/organizations from Dalmatian islands will be developed, for active engagement in collection of data on marine litter and plastic pollution and work on sustainable waste management and implementation of “reduce principle” on islands. The project will also strengthen local and national advocacy activities about sustainable waste management and implementation of the waste reduction principle on islands.

Project’s deliverables

• In order to successfully organize clean-up actions and expand knowledge about the implementation and collection of data on marine litter, education will be organized for project partners. Additionally, the capacities of partners will be strengthened for advocacy on the topic of marine litter, sustainable waste management, and the principle of reduction in the involved local communities.
• The organization of 4 clean-up actions with monitoring and data collection will be conducted. This data will be utilized in advocating for sustainable waste management in local communities and at the local level. Cleaning actions will be organized based on the Protocol for the implementation of cleaning actions.
• A joint communication initiative will be implemented to advocate for the issue of marine litter, as well as for sustainable waste management and the implementation of the reduction principle, aiming to raise awareness and foster behavioral change within communities.

Project updates

Insight into the organizations

The Association for Nature, Environment, and Sustainable Development – Sunce, a leading civil-society organization in Croatia, advocates for environmentally responsible solutions. With 25 years of experience, they focus on nature protection, waste management, and environmental law. Their goals for 2021-2026 include sustainable waste management and marine litter monitoring. Since 2014, they’ve been active in marine litter projects and have organized 27 clean-up actions, collecting 5,822.41 kg of waste. They emphasize reducing single-use plastic and have implemented initiatives like Plastic Smart Cities. Their efforts have garnered interest from other Croatian municipalities and islands, contributing to establishing plastic-free zones in natural parks and protected areas.