AQUATIKA – Freshwater Aquarium, Karlovac, Croatia

In the Karlovac surroundings in the village of Brođani, there is the Ship Zora – a historic boat that sailed the River Kupa in the 18th century and carried grain. On this boat trip one can experience a unique view of the nature from the river boat. During the 90 minutes of sailing the shipwreck will familiarize you with the stories of the boat, the history of the Pokupje reagion, the sinked ships, Karlovac sirens and the richness of the plant and animal world.

Two of the major Croatian cycling routes go through Karlovac, the one from Slovenia to the Plitvice Lakes, and the other from Bosiljevo to Zagreb. Thanks to the exceptionally preserved natural surroundings of the Karlovac area, the picturesque countryside with plains, rivers, wooded hills and mountains, cycling will ensure an unforgettable experience. A highly recommended adventure route: from Karlovac, via Ogulin, to Novi Vinodolski, along the historic Rudolfina road.

The “town of parks” is proud of its Vrbanić Gardens. Its landscape design is its most valuable feature. The park is designed to be a small open-air botanical garden, located on the south-eastern part of the town, between the Korana river and the Karlovac old town, the Star, and is a part of the famous recreational area on the Korana’s left bank. Today, the park is a favourite gathering place for numerous locals, as well as for the town’s visitors who enjoy the shade of centuries-old trees.

The purpose of this research is to determine the number of species and families of fish and Bivalvia. Population structure and distribution were analysed from August 2017 to May 2019. In fish population were identified 24 species from nine families, and five invasive species. Dominant fish species are Rhodeus amarus and Alburnus alburnus. The channel is also inhabited by an endemic species, Cobitis elongata. Analysis of Bivalvia found four species from two families, dominant species being Anodonta anatine.

Distribution and population structure of Bivalvia from the Unionidae family in the Kupa River course in Karlovac County was analysed from April to October 2018. At nine different locations, six species from four genera of this family were found. The dominant species is Unio crassus, while the least represented one is Pseudanodonta complanata. The invasive species Sinanodonta woodiana was found in four locations. This is the first research aimed at the distribution and population structure of this family in the Kupa River.

In Croatia, the Illyrian chub Squalius illyricus is endemic to the Adriatic Basin and inhabits rivers Cetina and Krka. In the last 20 years, research on this species has not been made. From the Cetina river 41 individuals were collected in April 2018 and their alometric growth, condition and age were measured. The results indicate almost isometric growth of individuals, indicating that the specified locations are favorable for their survival.

“Written On Water“ Project aims at bridging formal and non-formal education to get students close to work realities, by offering an innovative practical training focusing on the issue of rivers and water pollution.

WoW’s objective is to encourage the development of environmental awareness and green skills of young people. Water analysis experience will be the main goal. Collaboration with Aquatika was in the topic which refers to the determination of age structure of fish.

GLOBE students have been monitoring the climate, biological and chemical factors in the environment on which projects are being created. The sponsor of the GLOBE is NASA. Students are enabled to communicate with scientists and students from all over the world.

In the category of Hydrology, students of Elementary School Banija from Karlovac won the 1st place in the national competition with the project “What are the living conditions of fish in Aquatika compared to their natural environment?”.

Aquatika organizes several different workshops for school children during their visit to the aquarium. These workshops are adjusted to the children’s age and have several important goals:

• Encouraging pre-school children to recognize freshwater habitats
• Creating a positive relationship to the environment and nature
• Getting to know the life cycle of migratory species and the predatory way of life
• Active inclusion in environmental protection and nature.

Clean, accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in and there is enough fresh water on the planet to achieve this. However, due to bad economics or poor infrastructure, millions of people including children die every year from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene.

Croatia is rich with clean and accessible water, and our activities are focused on protection of the water-related ecosystems, including wetlands, rivers, and lakes, and wildlife in the freshwater ecosystems in their natural habitats.

PROJECT 1: “World aquariums against plastic pollution”

The action involves 106 aquariums from 33 countries, including 67 from 21 EU countries. The Global Coalition of International Aquariums is coordinated by the European Commission, together with the United Nations Environment Program.

Aquatika minimizes the use of disposable plastic in its business. In souvenir shop, we avoid  cellophane packaging and tend to use more natural materials. And in our own coffee bar, we have canceled the use of disposable plastic straws and replaced them with paper ones.

PROJECT 2: “NO to plastic water bottles”

Aquatika has completely disposed of the water in bottles. We offer our visitors only Karlovac water from the waterwork, with the story that water in the Karlovac area is of excellent quality.

With this move, we want to encourage other public institutions, companies, catering establishments and households to reduce the use of disposable plastic, especially buying and serving water in plastic bottles. We will give to Karlovac’s caffe bars the water kettle and ask them to be involved.

PROJECT 3: Workshop “Say NO to plastics”

Plastic pollution poisons our planet – the sea, the river, the ground, the animals and us humans. Earth day is devoted to raise public awareness of the need to change human behavior and to prevent plastic pollution.

Regarding this day, Aquatika organized ecological workshops: competition in recycling and making bird feeders, in order to educate and to encourage people to reduce the use of plastic in everyday life and to recycle used plastics.