First marine reserve in Split-Dalmatia declared on island of Vis

Cape Stupišće (Photo: Ex13/CC BY-SA 3.0)

A new marine reserve will soon be declared at Cape Stupišće on the island of Vis, making it the first specially protected marine area in Split-Dalmatia County.

The 100-hectare zone at the eastern end of Komiša Bay will have a total fishing ban to help restore marine life.

Protecting Marine Life

The clear waters off Cape Stupišće offer stunning views of Biševo, Svetac, and the open sea.

This location was chosen for its rich underwater reefs and the presence of valuable species such as dentex, lobster, and scorpionfish.

“This is all about protecting the most sought-after fish and marine species. The area is full of underwater reefs, making it an ideal conservation site,” Tonči Božanić, president of SRD Komiža, told HRT.

Easier Protection & First of Its Kind

Although not a vast area, the reserve will be easier to monitor with cameras and a local nature guard. Surprisingly, this is the first marine reserve in a county that has the largest maritime territory in Croatia.

“We have stunning coastal areas protected on land, like Zlatni Rat, Pakleni Islands, and Šćedro, yet our underwater world remained unprotected. Now, that is finally changing,” said Jelena Kurtović Mrčelić, project leader at JU More i Krš.

The reserve will also safeguard rare marine species, including red coral and Triton’s trumpet shell, while helping to replenish fish stocks.

“This will be one of the strictest protected areas in the Adriatic – not even a fishing line will be allowed. Over time, fish will repopulate not only the reserve but also surrounding areas,” added Božanić.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition fully supports the initiative, and the Croatian government is expected to officially designate it as a special reserve soon.

Diving Allowed Under Strict Regulation

Vis is a top destination for diving tourism, and diving at Rt Stupišće will still be permitted under strict regulations.

“With funding from the Split-Dalmatia Development Agency, we will install mooring buoys to eliminate anchor damage,” Kurtović Mrčelić confirmed.

Protecting Marine Caves

Alongside the Cape Stupišće reserve, a workshop was held in Komiža as part of the ASPEH project to improve the protection of marine caves.

The most famous caves in the Vis archipelago include the Blue Cave and Medvidina Cave on Biševo, and the Green Cave on Ravnik Island. Conservation efforts will focus on reducing human impact, including noise pollution, excessive lighting, and littering.

“We need to identify the most vulnerable habitats and set limits on how many people and how often they can enter these caves,” explained Donat Petricioli, a scientific advisor for ASPEH.

“Excessive noise, artificial lighting, and littering pose major threats to these sensitive ecosystems,” added Vida Zrnčić, a senior associate at Udruga Sunce.

Both the marine cave conservation efforts and the Cape Stupišće reserve are part of a larger, long-term initiative to protect the Vis archipelago, which has been a UNESCO Geopark since 2019.

It may sound like a cliché, but every visitor to Vis will confirm it – this truly is one of the last paradise oases in the Mediterranean.