A unique webcam on the Croatian coast.
Thanks to the joint efforts of scientists from the Division for Marine and Environmental Research of the Ruđer Bošković Institute (RBI) and their colleagues from the Association of Šibenik Meteo (ŠM), the public is able to enjoy the first live undersea shots taken by a web camera installed in the waters of Martinska near Šibenik at a depth of 5 metres. The project was financially supported by the Šibenik Tourist Board.
The team initiated first plans for the project last year, however, due to insufficient financial resources it was postponed for this year. Almost 180 metres of various protection and isolation cables were used for the implementation of the project. The whole system was designed and implemented by Marin Brajković and Darko Begić from Šibenik Meteo Association, and Neven Cukrov from RBI.
This underwater system is equipped with a light source which illuminates the seabed daily from 8 to 11 pm during the summer period, and the time period will adjust according to changes in the length of day and night throughout the year.
Estuaries are known in many parts of the world as breeding and nursery grounds for a wide variety of fish. Despite changes in salinity, many species of fish have found estuaries to be highly eligible areas in which to spawn, develop, and grow during early life. Krka River estuary is a well known spawning area for many fish species, and now we are able to see some of them live thanks to the undersea web cam.
This project will not only allow the public to enjoy the beauties of the Martinska sea life, but will also enable scientists to use visuals and data collected by an underwater camera, the meteorological station, as well as panoramic camera, to monitor life of this part of the seabed. Namely, thanks to its central position on the Croatian side of the Adriatic Sea, as well as due to concentrated connections of water sections of fresh, brackish and saline water, the Šibenik area is extremely suitable for aquaculture development and scientific research.
RBI opened the first laboratory in Martinska in 1980 with the aim to study fundamental processes and human impact on natural characteristics of water, sustainable development of aquaculture and tourism, as well as for training young scientists. Neven Cukrov from the RBI Division for Marine and Environmental Research explained that this joint venture by Šibenik Meteo Association and the RBI is one of the projects that will contribute to the positioning of the Martinska Marine Station as an important marine observatory. Moreover, he was more than satisfied that the scientific community has already expressed interest in the collected data.
One of the shots that made scientists most happy was a large loggerhead sea turtle in front of the camera. The marine reptile is endangered, and is the last reptile still living in the Mediterranean.
The live feed can be seen here, and the gallery with the most interesting moments so far here.
