Under the title “Not Another Photo from the Sea. One FOR the Sea!”, the campaign invites citizens to take a different kind of photo during their time by the sea, a photo of a marine species, algae, a jellyfish, a shell, a fish, a seagrass, an invasive species, marine litter or an unusual occurrence, and to report it through the Crafting the Sea application.

“The message of the campaign is clear, we are not looking for the most beautiful photo of the sea, but for an observation that can help science,” explained Dr. Mirta Smodlaka Tanković, Head of the Centre for Marine Research of the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Rovinj, adding, “People are already photographing the sea. We are inviting them to turn one of those photos into a data point that can help researchers build a database useful for science, education and nature conservation. Citizens do not have to be experts. It is enough to observe carefully, take a photo and report what they have noticed.”

Science, Innovation and Cooperation for a Sustainable Sea

The campaign was launched by scientists as part of the event “Ocean and Blue Innovation Day 2026: Science and Innovation for a Sustainable Sea”, which brought together researchers, representatives of local and regional communities, protected area managers, representatives of the SME sector, partners and other stakeholders involved in the protection of the Adriatic Sea and the sustainable management of coastal areas.

The programme presented the MIRAMAR, ALIENA, BRIGANTINE and NUTRIGEL projects, with an emphasis on monitoring changes in the Adriatic, invasive species, smart marine monitoring, technology transfer and innovations for a sustainable blue economy. A panel discussion titled “How Can Science and Technology Help Protect the Sea and Manage the Coast?” was also held, focusing on the protection of marine ecosystems, climate resilience, new technologies and cooperation between science, local communities and management bodies.

The panel brought together Bruno Kostelić, Head of the Section for Nature and Environmental Protection in the Administrative Department for Sustainable Development of Istria County, Sandro Dujmović, Director of the Public Institution Natura Histrica, Dr. Mirta Smodlaka Tanković, Head of IRB CMR, Dr. Mario Špadina, Director of SeaCras Ltd., and Luciano Beg, President of the Management Board of Marservis Ltd. and member of the Economic Council of the Croatian Chamber of Economy, Pula County Chamber.

The conclusion was that preserving the Adriatic requires synergy across all sectors, from public institutions, scientists and protected area managers to entrepreneurs, local communities and citizens, with a particularly important role played by public involvement, citizen observations and education in strengthening responsibility towards the sea.

From a Photo to Scientific Data and the Protection of Marine Life

The central moment of the campaign was the interactive part of the programme, Blue Walk, Crafting the Sea Experience, during which participants left the conference hall and walked to the coast to test how the application works in a real environment. Guided by researchers, participants learned how to recognise an observation worth reporting, how to photograph it and how to turn it into a report in just a few simple steps.

In this way, the campaign demonstrated its basic idea in practice, that a single photo does not have to remain just a memory from the sea, it can become data FOR the protection of the sea.

Autonomous Vessels and Smart Sensors Bring a New Dimension to Marine Monitoring

In addition to citizen science and the Crafting the Sea application, the event also presented an advanced technological layer of marine protection. As part of the Technology at Sea Showcase, innovative monitoring technologies and BRIGANTINE ASV systems were presented, autonomous unmanned vessels designed to monitor the condition of the sea and seabed.

Autonomous vessels can enter sensitive coastal areas and shallows that are often difficult for conventional research vessels to access. They are equipped with cameras and specialised sensors that enable multisensor data collection, seabed mapping and recording of underwater conditions.

The particular value of these systems lies in connecting different types of data. Innovative software systems enable the real time fusion of chemical, physical and multispectral marine data, providing a more precise and comprehensive picture of the marine ecosystem.

“The Crafting the Sea application shows how citizens can take part in monitoring marine life, while autonomous vessels and sensors show how science is developing increasingly precise tools for understanding changes in the sea. Together, these two approaches provide a stronger picture of the state of the Adriatic, from citizen observations to advanced measurements in sensitive coastal areas,” said Dr. Mirta Smodlaka Tanković.

Call to Citizens: This Summer, Take One Photo FOR the Sea

The campaign “Not Another Photo from the Sea. One FOR the Sea!” will continue throughout the summer as an invitation to citizens, parents, tourists, divers, fishers, sailors, walkers and everyone spending time by the sea to take part in monitoring the marine environment. Participation is simple: spot it, photograph it, report it.

Each individual report may seem small, but a large number of observations can help researchers better understand changes in the Adriatic. That is why the campaign’s message is simple and memorable: We already have enough photos from the sea. This summer, let us take one FOR the sea.

Note: The event is organised within the MIRAMAR, BRIGANTINE, ALIENA and NUTRIGEL projects, in cooperation with relevant partners and stakeholders involved in the development of sustainable solutions for the protection of the Adriatic Sea and coastal areas.