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Locations: Veli Losinj, Croatia
Program Terms: Fall, Spring
Homepage: Click to visit
Program Sponsor: The School for Field Studies (SFS)

Fact Sheet:

Fact Sheet:
Click here for a definition of this term Language of Instruction:	English	Click here for a definition of this term Class Status:	1-first year, 2-sophomore, 3-junior, 4-senior, 5-grad student
Housing Options:	Dormitory	Click here for a definition of this term Areas of Study:	Biology, Earth Science, Ecology, Environmental Studies, Geography, Marine Science, Math/Statistics, Molecular Biology, Policy and Society, Pre-vet, Sustainability, Veterinary Science, Zoology
Program Type:	Field Study, Study Abroad	Minimum GPA:	2.7

Program Description:

SFS CROATIA: SEA TURTLES AND MARINE MAMMALS OF THE ADRIATIC
(SEMESTER)

PROGRAM DETAILS

Terms | Fall, Spring

Credits | 18 semester-hour credits

Prerequisites | One semester of college-level ecology, biology, or environmental studies/science | 2.7 GPA | 18 years of age

Application Deadline | Fall: May 15th. Spring: November 15th. Early applications encouraged!

Financial Aid | All accepted students can apply for need-based scholarships, grants, and loans.

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OVERVIEW

The Adriatic shimmers with dolphins, loggerhead turtles, and seagrass meadows, yet its waters rank among Europe’s most heavily trafficked and fished. Students survey bottlenose dolphins, satellite track turtles, and monitor seagrass, while analyzing how shipping, tourism, and bycatch threaten fragile populations. A dolphin breach beside the research boat becomes a moment of wonder, even as students log the data into conservation records. They also help rehabilitate injured turtles and interpret stranding data for policy. Each encounter underscores Croatia’s dilemma: a coast famed for beauty but pressured by unsustainable growth. Students not only contribute data but also grapple with how science and society must recalibrate to keep the Adriatic alive.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
→ Survey bottlenose dolphins during daily research cruises, recording behavior, group composition, and individual IDs for long-term population tracking.

→ Satellite track loggerhead turtles and assess post-release success from rehabilitation centers, linking individual journeys to regional conservation outcomes.

→ Monitor Adriatic seagrass meadows for structure and health while documenting associations with fish, turtles, and invertebrates.

→ Record cetacean acoustic behavior with hydrophones, analyzing whistles, clicks, and calls as part of population communication studies.

→ Conduct Directed Research: frame a stakeholder-driven question, collect and analyze field data with faculty guidance, and present actionable findings to local partners.

RESEARCH THEMES

Cetacean and Sea Turtle Ecology
Biodiversity Conservation
Marine Spatial Planning and Regional Conservation
Systematic Conservation Planning and Decision-Making
Cetaceans and Sea Turtle Rescue Procedures
Sea Turtle Rehabilitation and Husbandry Practices
Veterinary Investigations and Diagnostics

CORE SKILLS

Biodiversity Assessments
Population Monitoring
Animal Behavior Observation
GIS and Mapping
Biodiversity Survey Techniques
Tag/Recapture Techniques
Photo-Identification
Species Management Planning
Research Design and Implementation
Quantitative and Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis
Scientific Writing and Communication
Sea Turtle Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Husbandry Techniques

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