Climate change threatens Adriatic sardines, once the superfood of Croatia's coast

Sardine factories once symbolized the industrial rise of Croatia's Adriatic coast. Now, climate change and dwindling fish populations are threatening what remains of the industry. Tourism is not a sustainable substitute. Warming sea temperatures and shifting ocean currents in the Adriatic have disrupted sardine migration patterns and breeding cycles. Catches have fallen dramatically over the past decade, and some traditional fishing communities face an uncertain future. Sardines were not just an economic resource but a cultural staple of coastal communities in Croatia, Italy, and other Adriatic nations. Annual sardine festivals and centuries-old fishing traditions are at risk of disappearing. Marine biologists warn that without significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable fishing practices, sardine populations may not recover. The situation reflects broader threats to Mediterranean marine ecosystems from climate change.