Impact of Climate Change and Pollution on the Status of the Water Column, Sediment, and Organisms in the Adriatic Sea (KlimPrOn)
Title:
Impact of Climate Change and Pollution on the Status of the Water Column, Sediment, and Organisms in the Adriatic Sea (KlimPrOn)
funding:
Ministry of Science and Education
acronym:
KlimPrOn
Duration:
2024. – 2027.
PROGRAM:
National Recovery and Resilience Plan
2021-2026
Impact of Climate Change and Pollution on the Status of the Water Column, Sediment, and Organisms in the Adriatic Sea (KlimPrOn)
Climate change and pollution, along with biodiversity loss, represent a triple planetary crisis on a global scale. This project addresses two elements of this crisis, specifically the chemical aspects of the impact of climate change and pollution in the coastal and open sea areas of the Croatian part of the eastern Adriatic. It will be carried out through three work packages: Acidification of the Central and Southern Adriatic Sea (1), Impact of Anthropogenic Pressures and Climate Change on the Trophic Status of the Water Column and Contaminants (2), and Microplastics in the Marine Environment (3).
1) Existing long-term data series related to acidification parameters will be identified. The introduction of new research methods and monitoring of new parameters will significantly contribute to the assessment of sea acidification in the Adriatic. Research on shellfish farming sites and traditional shellfish harvesting areas will provide valuable information for assessing the vulnerability of this economic activity
2) The concentrations of nutrients in seawater will be studied to assess the degree of eutrophication, and the content of metals in the sediment will be examined to evaluate pollution. Changes in the sedimentation conditions important for the distribution and content of metals and the composition of organic matter (carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus), will also be examined in the sediment. The introduction of new analytical methods for determining carbon and nitrogen will contribute to new scientific insights into the composition of organic matter in the Adriatic. The assessment of the impact of climate change and/or its superponing with anthropogenic pressures will be analyzed from long-term data series.
3) A new analytical technique for the qualitative determination of microplastics in the marine environment will be introduced. Areas near larger cities and open sea areas will be investigated as well as targeted locations at shellfish farming sites, where the microplastics in their environment and in the tissue of farmed species will be detected.
The sustainability of the proposed project’s results will be reflected through their application in marine environmental protection policies and the economy of the Republic of Croatia.
Project team
Novosti
International Fishing Fair – Crofish (November 21–23, 2025)
The Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries took part in Crofish, the 17th International Fishing Fair held in Poreč from November 21 to 23, 2025. During the event, IOR researchers presented several ongoing projects, including KlimPrOn. Throughout the three‑day fair, visitors had the opportunity to learn more about the challenges of climate change and pollution in the Adriatic Sea and how science and innovation contribute to addressing these issues.
Visit to Mertojak Elementary School, Split
On November 20, 2025, young researchers from the Institute held a hands‑on workshop titled “Chemistry and the Sea” at Mertojak Elementary School in Split. The workshop engaged eighth‑grade students in an interactive journey combining practical experiments and short lectures. Students discovered how environmental factors such as acid rain, pollution, and climate change affect the marine environment, explored ways to reduce their negative impact, and learned how each individual can contribute to preserving the Adriatic Sea. The workshop inspired curiosity and environmental awareness among students, highlighting the importance of a scientific approach to protecting marine ecosystems.
Shimadzu Congress – Celebrating 150 Years of Innovation
On Friday, May 16, 2025, PhD candidate Ante Čović‑Stanić, together with his mentor Dr. Slavica Matijević, delivered an engaging presentation at the Shimadzu Congress, held to celebrate the company’s 150th anniversary. His talk, titled “Microplastics in the Marine Environment,” introduced participants to the research activities carried out under Work Package 3 of the KlimPrOn Project, highlighting innovative approaches to addressing microplastic pollution in the Adriatic Sea.
The KlimPrOn Project Presented at the 2025 Science Festival – Šibenik
As part of the national Science Festival 2025, the second exhibition of scientific papers and projects titled “How Did Science Begin on My Island?” was held on Tuesday, May 6, at the Visitor Center “St. Anthony’s Channel”. On this occasion, visitors had the opportunity to interactively explore the KlimPrOn project.
Visits to Elementary Schools in Trilj, Tučepi, and Split
From March 5 to 7, 2025, young researchers from the Institute held a workshop titled “Chemistry and the Sea” in elementary schools in Trilj, Tučepi, and Split. Aimed at seventh and eighth grade students, the workshop offered an interactive journey through hands-on activities and lectures. Students had the opportunity to discover how environmental factors such as acid rain, pollution, and climate change affect the marine ecosystem. They also explored ways to reduce negative impacts and learned how they can contribute to the preservation of the Adriatic Sea.
Visit of the Elementary School from Zadar
On February 14, 2025, sixth-grade students from Šime Budinić Elementary School in Zadar visited the Institute, where science was presented to them in an interactive way. The students had the opportunity to learn about the goals of the KlimPrOn project through mini-experiments related to acidification and microplastics.
Working Meeting in Ston
On January 15, 2025, a working meeting was held in Ston to strengthen collaboration aimed at enhancing environmental protection in shellfish farming within Mali Ston Bay. The partnership focuses on advancing efforts to reduce microplastic pollution, increasing the ecological value of the bay to support sustainable mariculture, and boosting the market appeal of local shellfish products by promoting them as “Plastic Free”.
16th International Fishing Fair – Crofish (November 22-24, 2024)
The Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries once again exhibited at the Crofish international fisheries fair, held in Poreč for the 16th consecutive year. During the three-day event, visitors had the opportunity to learn about the work of the Institute, including various projects, among them the KlimPrOn project, which highlighted the issues of climate change and pollution in the Adriatic Sea.
Visit of the Primary School from Kaštel Sućurca
The institute hosted fourth-grade students from a primary school in Kaštel Sućurca, where science was introduced to them in an interactive way. Among other activities, they learned about the tasks of the KlimPrOn project through mini experiments, which focused on the issues of ocean acidification and microplastics in the marine environment.
Important Document Published by the European Marine Board
Together with 33 experts from 16 European countries, the project leader of KlimPrOn, Dr. Slavica Matijević, PhD, a scientific advisor, participated in the creation of the publication. Dr. Matijević contributed her extensive experience in the fields of eutrophication, marine pollution, and sediment geochemistry, as well as her involvement in the implementation of European water directives and the regional Barcelona Convention
The KlimPrOn Project at the European Researchers’ Night
On the last Friday of September, as part of European Researchers’ Night 2024, visitors had the opportunity to explore ongoing research conducted within the KlimPrOn Project. Science took center stage at Split’s Prokurative Square, attracting around 8,000 visitors, where the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries proudly presented its work among many other exhibitors. Visitors’ enthusiasm was clearly reflected in their choice of the Institute’s stand as the best of the event.
The KlimPrOn – Sediment Sampling for Microplastic Detection – Salt Marshes (Jadrtovac and Blaca)
As part of a collaboration with colleagues from Liverpool John Moores University – School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, sediment sampling was carried out in salt marsh areas of the central and southern Adriatic for the purpose of microplastic detection (WP3).
On May 11, 2024, together with our colleagues from Liverpool (Professor Jason Kirby and PhD student Stamatia Galata), we sampled sediment in the Jadrtovac salt marsh (Zadar region), and on May 27, 2024, in the Blaca salt marsh (southern Adriatic). In addition to microplastic analysis, other geochemical parameters in the sediment were also determined for all samples.
The KlimPrOn project has started
The implementation of the KlimPrOn project has begun – Impact of Climate Change and Pollution on the status of the water column, sediment, and organisms in the Adriatic Sea. The project is funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021-2026 and will last for four years. On this page, you will be able to follow our activities and the progress of the project.
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