Environmental alarm

Adriatic Sea as a brownish broth and oil off Istria

This sight in Istria is certainly not conducive to swimming.(Bild: zVg)

Environmental alarm off the coast of Croatia: a massive jellyfish bloom is polluting the sea off Rovinj, an oil slick is drifting in the south.

Holidaymakers in Croatia are sounding the alarm: off the coast of Istria, the Mediterranean has been showing its most foul-smelling side for days. A slimy, brownish layer has formed on the surface. Not at all inviting for a swim. "The dark stains collect in the bays," reports a disappointed vacationer from Salzburg.

Expert suspects marine slime
Researchers are also concerned about the state of the Mediterranean: "The phenomena are complex. The term algae plague is not always correct," explains marine biologist Robert Hofrichter. He suspects that it could be a case of so-called marine slime.

This sight in Istria is certainly not conducive to swimming.(Bild: zVg)

Organic material dies off and bacteria consume all the oxygen. A scientific colleague from the region also reported a massive occurrence of a type of jellyfish known as the sea walnut. These floating pests are spreading like wildfire.

And to make matters worse, an oil slick hundreds of meters long was discovered on the southern tip of Istria near Premantura on Sunday. A campsite popular with Austrians is also affected. Emergency services are battling the greatest enemy of the seas.