The Adriatic Sea of Croatia, one of the most treasured natural environments and preserved parts of Mediterranean Sea, is famous for its thousand islands and breathtaking beaches surrounded by crystal clear waters. Not only is there a significant population on the coast and islands, but as one of the world's most desirable destinations, with the pristine natural beauty of its sea, it has attracted millions of people worldwide for many decades.
More importantly, it is home to more than 7,000 diverse animal and plant species that inhabit clear blue depths, undersea reefs, caves, rocks and sand teeming with unique wildlife, forming the present-day preserved ecosystem that has evolved and survived since ancient days of the Mediterranean Sea ! Endangered protected species - magnificent aquatic creatures like the Mediterranean Monk Seal, Bottlenose Dolphin, Short-beaked Common Dolphin, Blue Shark, Great White Shark, Basking Shark and Giant Devil Ray, are just a few among the numerous gorgeous lifeforms of the Adriatic marine wilderness that gives rise to an abundance of endemic flora and fauna, some of which are on the edge of extinction.
Astonishingly, the Croatian Government's Ministry of Economy, supported by the Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection, created new laws to allow oil companies of the world to drill an extensive 90% of the Adriatic seabed. They would search and extract oil and gas for the decades that follow, and allow drilling rigs as close as 6 kilometers away from each island and all the 7 marine protected areas.
This would even encroach on the protected wildlife zones of the Natura 2000 Network, violate the EU environmental legislation, and ignore the Public Comment Period suggestions made by each and every one of the respectable environment experts and scientists. Not to mention the high sismic activity, which makes the risk of accident even higher. The fact that this sea is comparatively small, shallow, and also semi-enclosed, makes the risk of permanent pollution, oil disaster and wildlife extinction even more serious ! Moreover, one of the chosen drilling companies is said to be responsible for 471 oil leaks in Nigeria, in only 9 months !
Besides, who on earth would want to see this next to the Kornati islands or anywhere else ? The pictures above I took last year near Prvic Island. I can't imagine living without this, or see it being destroyed just to enrich a bunch of greedy individuals.
Life on Earth started in our oceans and seas. We are responsible for today, and for generations to come ! Please sign the petition and tell everyone to protect the Adriatic Sea and its marine wildlife. Let's deliver a message from around the world, that cannot be ignored.
