Šolta to lead way as islands struggle with anchoring and pollution
- by croatiaweek
- in News
The municipality of Šolta has decided to employ two maritime wardens in an effort to bring order to the island’s bays, which have increasingly struggled with uncontrolled anchoring, overcrowding and pollution, HRT reports.
Until now, the island of Šolta has not had any wardens in place, and the lack of regulation has left locals frustrated.
In peak season, hundreds of boats can be found anchored side by side, with up to a thousand visitors descending on a single bay in one day.
The result, residents say, is waste, noise, and sometimes even sewage being discharged directly into the sea.
The move to employ wardens was approved by the Municipal Council, with expectations that the Harbour Master’s Office and maritime police will also provide support.
Locals, however, remain cautious, pointing out that confrontations between residents and boat owners have at times come close to physical clashes.
“Some visitors behave arrogantly, as if the whole world is theirs. What will happen when a warden comes to issue a fine or warning?” one resident asked.
Municipal Council president Nataša Blagaić said the Harbour Authority has assured them that once wardens are in place and begin issuing fines and sanctions, order will improve.
“We are not one hundred percent convinced, but let us give time for results to show,” she said.
The municipality will need to purchase a vessel for the wardens, while also pushing for protection from maritime police and support from the island’s harbour master in case situations escalate beyond control.
Mayor Nikola Cecić Karuzić noted that tourism is vital to Šolta, but stressed the need for regulation.
“Tourists see the sea as entertainment, but for us it is life. We are not against nautical tourism – quite the opposite, it sustains our restaurants and hospitality businesses for much of the year. But it has to be legal and respectful of the rules,” he said.
Both Karuzić and Blagaić hope the Ministry of the Sea will provide further backing, particularly through the establishment of a dedicated body to coordinate regulation across Croatia’s islands, in line with the Law on Maritime Property and Ports.
Šolta may be the first to take such measures, but local leaders stress that the problem is far from unique.
Unregulated nautical tourism is a growing challenge for islands across Croatia. Unless anchoring is limited and the sea and seabed protected, they warn, the damage could become irreversible.
