The Adriatic-Ionian basin is one of Europe’s richest marine ecosystems, yet protection levels remain strikingly low. A new environmental study shows that only 3.4% of its waters fall under protection, compared with the EU average of 10.8%. Experts warn that overfishing, unchecked tourism, and coastal development are steadily eroding fragile habitats.
The call now is for cross-border action. Environmentalists argue that fragmented national efforts cannot safeguard a shared sea.
Proposals include creating supranational marine protected areas and expanding “no-take zones” where fishing and extraction are banned. Without such cooperation, conservationists fear the Adriatic risks sliding into ecological decline.
For the Adria region, this is more than an environmental issue — it is an economic one. From Croatia’s tourism industry to Italy’s fishing fleets, livelihoods depend on a healthy sea. Strengthening marine protections could preserve biodiversity while sustaining the industries that define the Adriatic identity.
