Croatian experts raise alarm over soaring sea temperatures

Experts in Croatia have raised the alarm over extremely high sea temperatures due to a lingering heat wave. This will have long-term effects on all marine life, they warned, reported Xinhua.

Croatia issued red warnings, the highest level for a heat wave, for the whole country on Thursday. As early as 8 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) in Pula on Thursday, sea temperatures reached 29 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, in Mljet, the sea temperatures reached 28 degrees Celsius, Croatia Week said in a report on Friday.

The highest sea temperature in Croatia since measurements began by the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ) was recorded in July, when the sea temperature in Dubrovnik reached 29.7 degrees Celsius.

"This is quite alarming because it affects plant and animal life, and all of us," Croatian oceanographer Ivica Vilibic said.

Many new species of fish are appearing in the Adriatic Sea, Vilibic said, with rising temperatures attracting species from warmer waters through the Suez Canal into the Eastern Mediterranean. They are slowly making their way into the Adriatic, with some becoming native.

"There will be even more of this, and soon we will resemble the Red Sea" where sea temperatures are typically high all year round, said Croatian meteorologist Dusko Kraljev.