The Pakleni Islands are a group of about 20 small, mostly uninhabited islands near Hvar, off Croatia’s central Adriatic coast. The sea around them contains an unusual variety of important habitats, including coral reefs, seagrass (Posidonia) meadows, underwater caves, and mudflats. Marine life is correspondingly rich, from fish and loggerhead sea turtles to inconspicuous species that are in danger of extinction, such as the noble pen shell.

The islands’ clear waters, beaches, and scenic forests make them popular for sailing, swimming, and snorkeling. Unfortunately, tourists leave litter, and boat anchors damage seagrass meadows, reefs, and seabed.

The islands themselves have some legal protection, but the waters around them do not. This project’s goal is to increase marine protection here and serve as a model for other communities. Our project partner will use a grant to:

• Expedite new marine protected areas. Getting legal protection is a crucial step, and our partner will work with local stakeholders and government agencies to finalize a plan. In some of the protected area, heavily regulated fishing and tourism could occur. In about 1,182 acres that include coral and seagrass, commercial activities would be banned or very restricted.
• Work with fishers. For marine protection to succeed, fishers must become environmental guardians. They would be involved in setting the borders of the protected areas and detailed rules for protection.
• Remove marine debris. Our partner will coordinate cleanup days to remove “ghost gear” and other debris that endanger marine wildlife. Fishermen will help plan and implement the cleanups; volunteers from local diving clubs will remove debris from the seabed. Other volunteers will tackle beaches and send any recyclable plastic to a local recycler. In addition to providing environmental benefits, these efforts spread the word about marine conservation and help get the public behind new rules.