TETHYS4ADRION

Plastic pollution represents a major threat to biodiversity and fishery in the Mediterranean, particularly in the Adriatic-Ionian region, which stands out as a hotspot. Rivers are the main plastic pathways from land to the sea, and in the Adriatic-Ionian region, various rivers are shared among countries or flow along countries’ borders. Thus, addressing riverine inputs of marine litter is a shared territorial challenge, as also reflected in the recent efforts of the European Commission and the Barcelona Convention towards harmonised approaches.

The overarching aim of the TETHYS4ADRION project is to investigate the role of rivers in contributing to marine plastic pollution in the Adriatic-Ionian region and to develop and deploy mitigation strategies to address riverine litter inputs.

The main project outputs include:

Jointly adopted Guidelines for riverine litter monitoring in the Adriatic-Ionian region. A robust monitoring network for collecting riverine litter data will be developed. It will employ a harmonised approach to monitor and assess riverine litter in five key pilot river areas: Alfeios (Greece), Buna-Bojana (Albania, Montenegro), Soča-Isonzo (Slovenia, Italy), Neretva (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Reno (Italy).

A Blueprint on operationalising best practice solutions to address riverine plastic litter. The blueprint will outline the operational steps for implementing practical solutions to tackle the issue of riverine plastic litter. It will showcase a thoughtful collection of best practices that have been collaboratively chosen, tested, and validated by all stakeholders in the five pilot river areas. These solutions are designed to prevent and reduce plastic pollution in rivers while restoring their health and integrity.

A Regional Roadmap towards zero plastics released at sea in the Adriatic-Ionian region. The Roadmap will be a strategic plan tailored for local, national, and regional decision-makers and policy-makers, offering actionable insights to reduce riverine litter inputs. Through a collaborative effort, experts from diverse backgrounds across all countries within the region will actively participate in crafting this Roadmap, ensuring comprehensive and inclusive solutions.

A Regional Group of stakeholders committed to eliminating riverine litter inputs will be created to solidify and amplify the project impact and collective momentum. The network will involve stakeholders from the Adriatic-Ionian region (and beyond) who are united in addressing the issue of litter entering waterways. These stakeholders typically include government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academic institutions, industry representatives, and local communities.

Community engagement lies at the heart of the mission of the TETHYS4ADRION project. The project actions will raise public awareness about the impacts of riverine litter through dynamic campaigns, interactive workshops, and comprehensive educational programs tailored for individuals, communities, schools, and businesses. With volunteer programs, cleanup efforts, and river restoration endeavours, the project will empower local communities to take proactive steps toward cleaner rivers, nurturing a strong sense of ownership and responsibility among all members.

Programme priority: Supporting a greener and climate resilient Adriatic-Ionian region

Specific objective SO 2.3: Supporting environment preservation and protection in the Adriatic - Ionian region

Project duration in months: 36 (Sep 2024 – Aug 2027)

Total value of the project: 1,712,579.60 Euros

Project partners:

National Institute of Chemistry (SI), Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (HR), University of Tirana (AL), Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (IT), Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (EL), Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (EL), Institute of marine biology, University of Montenegro (ME), Institute for Water of the Republic of Slovenia (SI), City of Metkovic (HR), City of Čapljina (BA).

Website: https://tethys4adrion.interreg-ipa-adrion.eu

Contacts

Tomaso Fortibuoni (tomaso.fortibuoni@isprambiente.it)

Roberto Crosti (roberto.crosti@isprambiente.it)