engleski

Status of knowledge on marine cave environments of the Croatian Adriatic coast

There are more than a thousand semi- and entirely submerged caves, underwater passages and cold-water pits along the eastern karstic coast of the Adriatic Sea which belongs to the Republic of Croatia. They are inhabited by, up to now, poorly investigated, fragile and long-living communities of semi-dark caves, completely dark caves and cold-water pits with bathyal elements. Marine caves are endangered marine habitats according to the NATURA 2000 classification (submerged and partly submerged marine caves, code 8330). Most caves are located within the Ecological Network of the Republic of Croatia (NATURA 2000 Network). Although Croatian coasts are considered among the most studied Mediterranean areas concerning geology and biodiversity of marine and anchialine caves, comprehensive and quantitative studies were only done on a small number of Croatian caves. There is an urgent need for systematic research and monitoring of marine caves in Croatia. Threats to which marine caves are subjected today are numerous. A considerable number of Croatia’s marine caves face an upcoming or rising danger of damage to their living communities and/or their geomorphological features due to intense commercial use (SCUBA diving, nautical, and individual tourism). Our experience suggests that it is currently impossible to control the vast and often remote areas encompassing submerged caves in Croatia. Therefore, some of Croatia’s most valuable caves are possibly exposed to over exploitation and poor management or no management at all. Croatia's submerged karst deserves particular consideration and valorisation.

Marine caves, protection, touristic exploitation, Croatia

nije evidentirano