Project PEPSEA, Interreg Italy – Croatia

Šibenik-Knin County organized a public event in the port of Vrnaža in Šibenik and a private media tour at the pilot location of St Anthony's Channel.

Purpose of the event and media tour was to present project PEPSEA, purchased equipment and other tools that were developed through the project. Another crucial task was to raise awareness on importance of the considerate use of the sea among the local communities and sea users. There were representatives of public institutions, nautical tourism, sailing club, tourist board and other relevant stakeholders.

Ms. Sanja Slavica Matešić, project manager of PEPSEA in Šibenik-Knin County explained why it is so important to protect our environment and pointed out that pilot location in Šibenik is exposed to increased risks of sudden marine pollution due to the strong development of nautical tourism. Pilot location itself is unique estuary of the Krka river, protected as a significant landscape, NATURA 2000 area and recently as a UNESCO buffer zone of the fortress of St. Nicholas.

Mr. Marko Jelić, County Prefect expressed his hope that equipment and all other tools will be used more for trainings and as little as possible for actual sudden events of pollution.

Procured sensors, pollution detectors, skimmers, generators, various types of dams together with established geoinformation system and other project activities helped to increase capacities and effectiveness of the response centre in Šibenik-Knin County.

Equipment and other activities were presented with assistance of external experts from ATRAC, Luveti d.o.o., Geolux d.o.o. and Geodetski zavod Rijeka.

The public and media representatives had the opportunity to participate in a demonstration of equipment, conduct interviews with experts and visit the pilot site by boat.