MaDis Project Insights: Mapping the Wild Anchorages in Zadar County

The project Mapping the Wild Anchorages in Zadar County (MaDis) focuses on systematically studying the spatial distribution and environmental impacts of wild anchorages, and the development of sustainable solutions for their regulation and improvement. The project is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU (IP-UNIZD2025-5555) and lasts 4 years (2025–2029). Wild anchorages will be identified via stakeholder workshops and focus groups with skippers, locals, and others, complemented by on-site condition assessments. Field investigations will utilize drones, ROVs, and thermal imaging, including dives, with student involvement in data acquisition and remediation. Zadar County, as one of the regions most heavily affected by nautical tourism in the Republic of Croatia, has been recording a significant increase in navigation activities and anchoring in unprotected coves. Such a dynamic causes significant pressure on coastal ecosystems, particularly on vulnerable communities such as Posidonia oceanica meadows, which are key habitats for preserving biodiversity. Wild anchorages further increase the risks of physical damage to the seabed, marine pollution, threats to navigation safety, and the degradation of the coastal area's tourist value. Despite the strategic importance of nautical tourism to the national economy, the negative environmental impacts of anchoring are still inadequately studied and spatially insufficiently documented. The main objective of the research is to establish a scientific base for understanding the environmental, spatial planning, and social aspects of wild anchorages, and to provide guidelines for sustainable management of marine resources. Specific objectives include identifying and mapping wild anchorage locations, terrain documenting and monitoring anchorage conditions, and assessing the vulnerability of certain areas. The methodological framework is based on the integration of contemporary techniques for collecting and analysing geospatial data. Potentially problematic anchorage locations will be identified in cooperation with skippers, the charter sector, and other relevant stakeholders through workshops and focus groups. Detailed documentation of conditions will be carried out using drones, submersibles, and other advanced equipment, with the collected data being georeferenced and integrated into a digital anchorage database. The database will be linked to the existing cartographic representations of coastal habitats in Zadar County to improve the quality of spatial planning and enable more precise management of vulnerable areas. It is expected that the project results will provide a thorough cartographic overview of wild anchorages, quantify their environmental consequences, and identify areas that require priority protection or improvement. The obtained data will provide the foundation for recommendations that include establishing restricted anchoring zones, implementing eco-friendly anchoring systems, and adapting management practices in accordance with the principles of sustainable marine management. In addition to its research component, the project includes a strong educational segment aimed at raising awareness among boaters and the local community. The project will contribute to shaping a strategy needed to protect marine habitats and sustainable usage of coastal areas. By integrating environmental, economic and social elements, MaDis project can serve as a model to solve the problem of wild anchorages in other coastal regions, while simultaneously supporting the sustainable development of nautical tourism alongside the protection of ecological stability and biodiversity of the Adriatic Sea.