The closest encounters with colonies of griffon vultures in the Kvarner region are most often and regularly experienced during the summer season by tourist boat operators navigating beneath the cliffs where these vultures nest. Therefore, their cooperation is essential in reducing potential disturbances caused by noise from tourist vessels. In addition, this segment of the tourism sector has been actively cooperating for many years with the Griffon Vulture Rescue Centre in Beli on the island of Cres, as boat operators are often the first to spot injured or strangely behaving birds. They frequently report such sightings and sometimes even intervene themselves to help rescue this strictly protected species.
Significantly reduced noise from tourist boats
Thanks to ongoing cooperation with the Public Institution “Priroda,” boat operators are aware of the navigation rules and behavior guidelines near nesting cliffs during the summer season. These educational efforts were further supported last year by volunteers from the SUP Patrol, who distributed 340 brochures on the topic.
As part of preparations for the new season, and within the framework of the LIFE SUPport project, a meeting was held on April 15 aboard the vessel Lahor in Punat on the island of Krk. The aim was to ensure a sustainable approach to vulture watching from tourist boats in partnership with tour operators. This cooperation between the nature conservation sector and tourism professionals in Kvarner has been ongoing for years, and thanks to these efforts, the meeting concluded that noise from organized tourist vessels has significantly decreased over time, while awareness about vulture conservation continues to grow.
However, it is important to note that the most inappropriate behavior is often caused by individuals renting boats, jet skis, and similar watercraft. This is confirmed by video footage from the islet of Plavnik, where a camera was installed as part of the project by the Public Institution “Priroda.” Noise from the sea can disturb chicks, causing unnecessary stress, especially as these young birds are inexperienced and not yet skilled in safe flight. In this critical stage of their lives, it is essential to maintain peace and quiet near the nesting cliffs. For this reason, part of the SUP Patrol’s activities last year focused on informing renters of such vessels at marinas across the wider project area.
