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Neptune grass/Posidonia oceanica

Description of the species:
Neptune grass belongs to the Angiospermae genus and can only be found in the Mediterranean Sea. In the northern Adriatic, where the transparency of the sea is less, meadows of Neptune grass are found at a maximum of 20 metres in depth, while in the south they can be found from the surface to a depth of around 50 metres. It grows on sedimentary bottoms and prefers clearer areas with lots of sunshine in order for the process of photosynthesis to happen. It has a root, a small body and long leaves which can reach 1 metre in length. After blossoming, it develops a dark brown fruit. Its growth is slow, only 1 cm per year. The importance of Neptune grass lies in its enriching the sea with oxygen, offering shelter to numerous sea organisms and providing protection against the erosion of the seabed, as it binds the sediment.

Reasons for threat:
Anchoring, construction in shore areas, trawling, fishing with dynamite, mariculture, various types of pollution.

Protection:
The species is strictly protected by the Ordinance on designating protected and strictly protected wild species (Official Gazette 7/06 and 99/09).

Illegal activities can be reported on the following phone numbers:

Inspectorate for the Protection of Nature

Istria and Kvarner - HQ in Rijeka, mr. sc. Ivanka Jelenić, senior inspector, tel: +385 (0)51 311302; mob: +385 (0)98 406313
e-mail: ivanka.jelenic@min-kulture.hr

Zadar region- HQ in Zadar, Damir Mitrović, senior inspector,
tel: +385 (0)23 211129; mob: +385 (0)98 406979
e-mail: damir.mitrovic@min-kulture.hr

Šibenik  and Split regions - HQ in Šibenik, Davor Cukrov, senior inspector
tel: +385 (0)22 215800; mob: +385 (0)98 406982
e-mail: davor.cukrov@min-kulture.hr

Dubrovnik region - HQ in Dubrovnik
Vesna Daničić, inspector
tel: +385 (0)20 323191; mob: +385 (0)98 407121
e-mail: vesna.danicic@min-kulture.hr

Source: www.dzzp.hr State Office for the Protection of Nature, Mrs Katja Jelić