As part of the Croatian Network of Marine Protected Areas, we invite you to an online meeting on the topic:
Corals of the Adriatic Sea – Overview and Threats
Date: May 12, 2026
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 AM (CET)
The lecture will be delivered by Prof. Dr. Petar Kružić from the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, whose long-standing scientific research has focused on corals and marine ecosystems.
Corals of the Adriatic Sea represent an exceptionally important, yet often insufficiently known, part of marine ecosystems. Although the Adriatic cannot be compared to tropical seas in terms of the diversity and size of coral reefs, it is home to a large number of coral species that play a key role in the “architecture” of marine habitats.
These structures provide shelter, feeding grounds, and breeding sites for many marine organisms, thereby significantly contributing to the overall biodiversity of the underwater environment. Their growth is slow and their life cycle long, making them particularly sensitive to external impacts.
In recent decades, corals have been exposed to increasing pressure on the marine ecosystems, including climate change and rising sea temperatures, pollution, and fishing activities, all of which have led to growing threats to their survival. As a result, corals are increasingly regarded as indicators of marine ecosystem health, as well as important subjects of conservation and scientific research.
Preserving these sensitive organisms is essential for maintaining the stability and biodiversity of the Adriatic Sea in the future.
We invite everyone interested to join us. Registration is available via the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/JZ_X4OnRQW2X-WDQLbj6Xg#/registration
