Nautical Tourism Not the Biggest Polluter of Adriatic Sea

The significant number of nautical tourists undoubtedly strains the marine environment, but it is not the main culprit behind its pollution, according to Artur Steffet, head of coastal sea protection at the Slovenian Maritime Administration.

Steffet believes that polluted river inflows and insufficient municipal and industrial wastewater treatment systems have a far greater impact on the sea's condition. The question of wastewater discharge from vessels arises, particularly concerning increased bacterial skin infections potentially linked to sea pollution, which is also influenced by all sea-goers.

While large vessels are increasingly equipped with modern, often superior, onboard treatment plants compared to land-based facilities, Steffet cautions that this doesn't mean all seafarers are conscientious. The Adriatic coast, especially in Croatia, which hosted 21.8 million foreign tourists last year, faces pressure from various sources, with river pollution and inadequate infrastructure posing more significant challenges than recreational boating alone.

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Po njegovem mnenju na stanje v morju veliko bolj vplivajo pritoki onesnaženih rek in nezadostni sistemi komunalnih (in industrijskih) čistilnih naprav.