Žaborić residents protest port and anchorage plans, citing environmental fears

Residents of the Croatian coastal town of Žaborić are fiercely opposing two proposed development projects that they fear will irrevocably alter their community. A public meeting in Studena bay saw over a hundred locals voice their strong objections to plans for a public port in the bay and a nautical anchorage on the Oštrica peninsula.

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We don't want a port in Studena, nor interventions that would further burden the coast with roads, infrastructure, and commercial facilities.

The proposed anchorage, intended for 30 vessels up to 15 meters long, has particularly ignited local anger. The "For Žaborić" association highlights that the seabed in the area hosts vital seagrass meadows, crucial habitats for marine life, and is adjacent to the Natura 2000 ecological network site Oštrica – Šibenik. They express deep concern that allowing economic use of this naturally preserved coastal stretch could open the door to widespread commercialization.

Adding to their alarm, the concession for the anchorage is being pursued while stricter protection measures for the area are under consideration, which could include a complete anchoring ban to preserve the marine environment. The association has announced further legal steps and plans to escalate the issue to the European Commission. Local authorities, however, maintain that the location permit for the anchorage is valid, citing existing spatial plans and stating the project lies outside the ecological network's boundaries.

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The concession is being pursued at a time when a stricter protection regime for that area is being considered, which could include a complete ban on anchoring to preserve the seabed.

Despite official assurances, residents insist that the actual environmental impact on the surrounding seabed and coast must be considered beyond formal protection boundaries. They are not only rejecting the port and anchorage but also demanding a comprehensive Urban Development Plan for Žaborić, along with essential infrastructure like sewage systems, green buffer zones, and improved public spaces. A petition against the planned developments has gathered over 700 signatures, and residents are urged to participate in a public consultation on regional spatial plans before decisions are made that will shape Žaborić's future for decades.

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The anchorage at Oštrica is foreseen by valid spatial plans, and the intervention itself is located outside the boundaries of the ecological network.