Project duration: 04/2024 – 03/2025 

Status: ON-GOING 

The challenge 

The project aims to map and database Cladocora caespitosa coral locations to create a baseline for monitoring. Selected based on prior research and local knowledge, the project addresses threats from climate change, ocean acidification, and rising sea temperatures. These threats, compounded by fishing, habitat changes, tourism, and urbanization, endanger the species, classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and Croatia’s Red List of Corals. Cladocora caespitosa is important as it plays a crucial role in marine ecosystems, providing habitat and shelter for various marine species, contributing to biodiversity, and supporting the overall health of coral reef systems.

The solution

The project aims to establish a foundational database for monitoring and documenting the status of Cladocora caespitosa at 20 locations on the island of Iž. This species is particularly sensitive to climate changes and is the only coral species in the Adriatic that forms colonies.

Implementing the project will yield key information on the distribution, density, and size of these corals, facilitating future comparisons and identification of potential changes. Currently, there is no documentation of this species in the Zadar archipelago, making this project the first systematic data collection effort for Cladocora caespitosa in the region.

Project’s deliverables

• Education and Training
• Field Data Collection
• Integrated Geospatial Analysis

Project updates

Insight into the organizations

The Diving Club KPA Zadar boasts over half a century of rich tradition as the first diving club in Zadar and a pioneering force in Croatian civilian diving instruction. Despite the growth of diving interest and new clubs, KPA Zadar has maintained its dedication to diving and underwater preservation. With a history of over 500 members and significant sports achievements, the club has received numerous awards, including the state award for technical culture Faust Vrančić and the Coat of Arms of the City of Zadar. In recent years, the club has shifted its focus towards environmental conservation, collaborating with the Public Institution Nature Park Telašćica on initiatives like underwater cleaning actions and free diving courses. Additionally, it provides high-quality education through its diving school and partners with the University of Zadar for undergraduate courses in Underwater Sciences and Technologies. Through its longstanding commitment, awards, and activities, KPA Zadar actively promotes diving and raises awareness about the value and fragility of the underwater world.