Association "BIOM"
Partner
Association "BIOM"
Association BIOM is one of the leading Croatian NGOs for nature conservation and the national representative of Birdlife International, the world’s largest network dedicated to the protection of birds and nature. Since 2006, it has been focusing on the protection and study of wild birds and other species and habitats, combating poaching and other threats to wildlife. BIOM engages volunteers and educates the public about nature and the importance of its conservation.
Seabirds, being among the most threatened bird species groups globally, have been a key focus for BIOM since its beginnings. By trialing the removal of invasive species (such as Black Rat and Small Indian Mongoose) and drafting the management plan for ‘tubenoses’ in Croatia, BIOM took important first steps to improve the conservation of species such as Yelkouan and Scopoli’s shearwaters and the Audouin’s gull. Things really picked up from 2018 with the LIFE Artina project - with the Adriatic Seabird Guardians and MedBycatch Phase II projects running in parallel -, where the main activities focused on colony monitoring and addressing the primary threats to seabirds in the Middle Adriatic. We successfully removed rats from key nesting sites around Lastovo and, by tagging and analyzing bird movements, identified the main feeding areas for seabirds in the Adriatic. These findings led to the designation of new Special Protection Areas (SPAs) at sea in 2025. The project also provided opportunities for upscaling and transferring the methods and results to other areas and seabird species. Maintaining some of the key conservation results achieved through LIFE Artina is secured through the new LIFE TETIDE project, which increasingly focuses on island biosecurity.
In addition, BIOM is actively involved in the conservation of the Mediterranean monk seal, one of the rarest seal species in the world and the most endangered marine mammal in Europe. Through the Adriatic Monk Seal Project, we work alongside partners from Albania, Montenegro and Italy, coordinated by EuroNatur to obtain essential data on monk seal occurrences and potential (breeding) habitats in the Adriatic Sea. The project aims to create favorable conditions for the natural re-establishment of the species in the Adriatic Sea by improving monitoring methods, strengthening regional and national cooperations, and promoting sustainable coexistence between people and this iconic marine species.
