Italia-Croatia

30/06/2025

During the warmer months, we naturally spend more time outdoors – and for good reason. No TV show, movie, air-conditioned room, or endless social media scrolling can compare to the feeling of stepping onto a beach, diving into the sea, resting under a pine tree, or simply spending time in nature.

This shouldn’t surprise us – science has long proven that being outdoors benefits both our physical and mental health: from strengthening the immune system and improving sleep, to reducing stress and lowering the risk of respiratory problems.

And if we pause for just a moment, nature often rewards us with unforgettable sights – moments worth capturing and remembering. For nature lovers, freezing these moments through a camera lens is both a challenge and a joy.

Yet, we are living in a time of profound environmental change: invasive species are spreading, fish populations are declining, and animal and plant species once familiar to us are disappearing. Biodiversity loss – alongside climate change and pollution – is one of the greatest crises of our modern world, with potentially devastating consequences for human health and survival.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, more than 47,000 species are currently threatened with extinction – that’s 28% of all assessed species on Earth. Protecting biodiversity is no longer a choice, but an urgent necessity.

The Interreg project ASPEH – Adriatic SPEcies and Habitats of coastal areas is part of a broader effort to preserve nature. Its mission is to reduce pressures on biodiversity and create shared tools and strategies to protect three key species and three valuable marine habitats of the Adriatic Sea.

We believe that conservation is only possible if we act together. This is where you – and your camera – come in.

The Photo Contest: “Adriatic Treasures”

Help us showcase the beauty and fragility of our shared sea. Inspire others, remind the world why every species counts and why every habitat matters – and win exciting prizes for your effort!

Do you have a photograph that captures the treasures of the Adriatic? Enter the “Adriatic Treasures” photo contest, launched as part of the ASPEH project, and show us the species and habitats that make our sea so unique.

Selected photos will be showcased at future ASPEH events and seen by a scientific and professional community.

And that’s not all – the top three entries will win special sea-inspired prize packages, including:

• An original artwork by Split-based artist Miljenko Dujić
• An online Photography Course by Silvije Volarić
• A guided tour of Italy’s Torre Guaceto Reserve
• A trip to the Blue Cave and Visitor Center on Biševo Island
• Entry tickets to Skrivena Dalmacija Visitor Center
• Unique handmade bracelets by Cronopi
• The poster Hug the Sea
• The book South by Jurica Pavičić
• Amorana, a collection of summer poetry
• Sunglasses made by Maritimo Recycling
• ASPEH bookmarks and magnets
• The ASPEH board game Adriatic Treasures & Food Web
• A travel pouch and eco-friendly “endless pencil” by Sunce.

Categories

Participants can apply in one or both categories:

• Adriatic Wildlife
  Focus on the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca), and Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus). Show us these species in their natural environment!
• Adriatic Habitats
  Highlight seagrass meadows (Posidonia oceanica), intertidal mudflats and sandbanks, or submerged and partially submerged caves.

📌 Photographs of these specific species and habitats will be given priority in the awards selection.

How to Apply

• Submit up to 5 original photographs in JPEG/JPG format, minimum resolution 3000 px on the longer side.
• Photos must not have been previously published or awarded in other competitions.
• Each file name must include the author’s full name and the photo title (e.g., “Ivo Ivic_Blue Cave and Its Residents.jpg”).
• By submitting, participants confirm authorship and allow use of their photos for project promotion (with credit given).

📩 Applications are open via Google Form: https://forms.gle/uXNuNinnNaNHaWRq7

Deadline

Send your entries by 10 September 2025.
Late submissions or those not meeting the contest rules will not be considered.

A jury of professional photographers will evaluate all eligible entries. Finalists and winners will be announced in September 2025.

Important Notes

• Photographs must follow ethical wildlife photography guidelines – do not disturb animals or damage habitats.
• By submitting, you confirm that you are the author and hold full copyright.
• Selected photos will be used (with credit) in ASPEH exhibitions, reports, social media, and other project communications.

Your lens can make a difference. Share your vision. Inspire conservation. Capture the treasures of the Adriatic.