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The Adriatic Sea, named after the ancient city of Adria, is one of the most interesting seas in the world. Almost 80% of its coastline lies in Croatia, with the rest shared between Italy (around 16%), Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania. It stretches from Savudrija in the north to Cape Oštro in the south. The total length of the coastline is 6,000 kilometres. There are 1,244 islands and reefs, but only about 50 of them are permanently inhabited. It is also interesting to note that the greatest depth of the Adriatic Sea, at 1,233 metres, is almost exactly the same as the number of its islands. The Adriatic Sea is very clean and pleasant for swimming (the average temperature in summer is around 26 °C). These conditions make it very hospitable and home to numerous plant and animal species. You may encounter some of them yourself, but probably not others. They are all very interesting, which is why I decided to explore them and compile a list of the seven most interesting inhabitants of the Adriatic Sea.
There is mainly only one species living in the Adriatic Sea, known as the ‘bottlenose dolphin’. They are extremely intelligent and are among the smartest animals of all. Why? Unlike me in the morning after getting up, dolphins are so smart that they can recognise themselves in the mirror and even use tools, such as sponges, to protect their snouts from injury while hunting. Respect for the dolphin – I wouldn’t have thought of that.
When they sleep, half of their brain remains active so that they can breathe and watch out for danger at the same time. They are excellent swimmers and live in groups. You can see them in many places here. There are often boats that take visitors to places where dolphins regularly appear, so the chances of seeing them are very high. As dolphins are sociable, they sometimes approach boats and even perform jumps. They just want to impress, really.
According to some estimates, there are currently around 200 bottlenose dolphins living in the Adriatic Sea, mainly in the northern and central parts (especially around the islands of Lošinj and Cres). As you can see, their population is quite small, and due to various ecological factors and human influence (e.g. entanglement in fishing nets), they are considered an endangered species. On the island of Lošinj, there is a special institute (‘Plavi svijet’, meaning ‘Blue World’) dedicated to the research and protection of bottlenose dolphins.
The best chance of encountering them is on the island of Lošinj. This is where the largest population is found – you can discover our camping offers on Lošinj here.
It is one of the most endangered mammals in the world; there are only slightly more than 600 animals worldwide. It is rarely sighted in the Adriatic Sea – when it is, it is a real sensation. They used to live in colonies and sought proximity to humans, but due to ecological influences and human disturbance, today only individual, solitary animals appear 🙁
The chances of seeing a Mediterranean monk seal in the Adriatic Sea are practically zero today, as they are extremely rare. It has been confirmed that a specific (always the same) animal was repeatedly sighted on the Adriatic coast between 2005 and 2014 until it finally died. If one does show up, it has usually ‘travelled’ from the Mediterranean Sea. It is strictly protected, and in some regions there are signs of a recovery in its population – so it cannot be ruled out that it will become a more frequent visitor to our seas in the future.
There are three species in the Adriatic Sea, but only one lives here permanently – the loggerhead sea turtle. It is an important inhabitant of our sea, as it helps to maintain the ecological balance. They can live for over 70 years and dive to depths of up to 200 metres. Unless you come to us in a submarine, there is little chance of seeing them underwater. Of course, there is a better chance of seeing them when they come to the surface to breathe. They can stay underwater for up to an hour.
As they often get caught in fishing nets or collide with boats, there are two rescue centres in Croatia for their protection – in Istria and on Lošinj. You are guaranteed to see some animals at the Pula Aquarium, where they are cared for and returned to the sea after recovery. Take a look at our camping offers in Pula and be sure to plan a day to visit the aquarium to see how the turtles are cared for.
Mussels are very important for the ecosystem and play a significant role in filtering the water. They are also one of the most popular culinary delicacies. There are many types of mussels in the Adriatic Sea, which are often found on menus in restaurants along the coast – the best known are certainly mussels (prepared ‘na buzaru’), oysters (especially common in the bay of Mali Ston) and scallops. In this article, however, we will focus on two types of mussels whose harvesting can cause major problems in this country.
The first is the Periska, which is also the largest mussel in the Adriatic Sea. Due to its critical endangered status, it is strictly protected and may not be touched or harvested. The noble pen shell is extremely sensitive, even to light touch – you can seriously damage it, as it is very susceptible to stress and disease. Collecting it is strictly prohibited by law, the penalties are high (up to €5,000), and larger quantities can even result in criminal liability.
The stone drill lives in rocks, and to extract it, you usually have to destroy the rock. This irreparably damages the underwater world and centuries-old rock formations. For these obvious reasons, fishing, consumption and sale are strictly prohibited. The penalties are similar to those for razor clams (up to €5,000), and larger quantities may also result in criminal liability. If someone offers you razor clams or stone borers ‘under the counter’ in a restaurant, remember that this person is committing a serious offence – it is better not to participate or to report it immediately.
Another exciting group of animals in the Adriatic Sea are sea cucumbers and sea urchins. You can see them everywhere – and here are a few things you should know before touching or removing them.
They look like cucumbers that have fallen into the sea. They are very slow and soft. They feed on sand and organic particles, ‘recycling’ the seabed. If they are disturbed, they can expel sticky threads or even entire sections of their intestines. They rarely end up on our plates, but in Asia they are considered a sought-after and expensive delicacy.
There are several species, but the black sea urchin is the most common in our region. It lives in shallow coastal waters and feeds on algae. Their spines are very fragile, break off easily and can get stuck in the skin. An encounter with them can be very painful – so it is best to avoid them and be careful not to step on them. But there is no need to be afraid: they are useful because they keep the algae population under control. In some parts of the Mediterranean, their caviar is eaten.
A sting can be very painful – but don’t panic.
There are around 30 species of jellyfish in the Adriatic Sea, but only a few of them can cause a really painful sting. Fortunately, the most common species – the moon jellyfish – is fairly harmless. The smaller species, such as Pelagia noctiluca, are more unpleasant. They are small and purple, but their size is deceptive. The problem is their long, stinging tentacles. It appears quite frequently in summer.
When the sea is calm and contains a lot of plankton, a so-called ‘jellyfish bloom’ can occur, in which a particularly large number of jellyfish appear. Recently, in the northern part of the Adriatic Sea in particular, so-called comb jellies have also been seen. They look very similar to jellyfish, but are not real jellyfish.
Comb jellies are soft, transparent organisms that look like small jellyfish, but do not have much in common with them. They owe their name to the fine ‘ribs’ of cilia that run across their bodies and which they use for locomotion.
They entered the Adriatic Sea via ballast water, probably from the Black Sea or the Atlantic Ocean. They feed on plankton, which is abundant in the northern part of the Adriatic Sea, partly due to the slightly higher water temperatures. They thrive here and reproduce very quickly. That is why they are often encountered while swimming in the summer, especially on the west coast of Istria.
This summer, I was in Novigrad by the sea with my children (aged 4 and 7) – they both picked them up without any problems and called them ‘slimey’. They don’t hurt you; it’s just a little unpleasant when you touch them while swimming.
We all know the feeling: you’re swimming, enjoying the sea and approaching the white buoys that mark the boundary. As soon as you cross them, the thought immediately creeps in: ‘What if a shark appears now?’ The deeper the water, the stronger this feeling becomes.
But I can reassure you: there are sharks in the Adriatic Sea, but:
a) they are mostly smaller and live in the open sea at greater depths.
The best-known species is the blue shark. The great white shark, which we know from films, does not exist in the Adriatic Sea.
b) They are not dangerous to humans. They feed mainly on small fish, crabs, squid and other cephalopods.
Encounters with humans are extremely rare. You really don’t need to worry, because sharks avoid humans – they are of no interest to them. In other words, they are probably more afraid of you than you are of them 🙂
And if you really want to see one, there are a few specimens at the Pula Aquarium.
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Due to the uncertain travel situation, it is important to book flexibly. At AdriaCamps you can cancel this accommodation free of charge up to a few days before your arrival.