SCIENTISTS URGE PROTECTION OF SALT LAKES IN CROATIA

ZAGREB, March 19 (Hina) - Ahead of World Waters Day (March 22), the Croatian public water management company "Hrvatske Vode" held a symposium on the salt lake called "Zmajevo Oko (Dragon's Eye)" on the peninsula of Gradina near Rogoznica (central Dalmatian coast). The discussion which experts held last Thursday pointed to dangers for the environment around the lake and the sea lake itself. Zmajevo Oko, which is also called Rogoznicko Jezero, is the only one out of four salt lakes in Croatia, which is not listed in protected Croatia areas. Other three listed salt (sea) lakes are Mir on the island of Dugi Otok (off Zadar) and Veliko Jezero and Malo Jezero on the island of Mljet (off Dubrovnik). Each of them is unique by its formation, ecological conditions and ecological communities. A biologist, Donat Petricioli, said Zmajevo Oko is the smallest salt lake in Croatia and is natural wealth, very interesting for scientific research, which should be protected. Petricioli warned that the construction of a marina in 1992 near the lake had posed a threat to environmental relations in that area. The scientist cautioned that natural links through which sea water is coming into the lake, could be severed causing changes in the entire ecological system. He also said guests at the marina were polluting the lake by leaving waste and excrement in it. He proposed measures of protection and added that it was necessary to draft a micro-geological map of that area as well as to conduct scientific research there. He suggested a ban on the construction of buildings near the lake. Another scientist Marko Branica cautioned that a little failure in the protection of the lake could lead to gross consequences. He accentuated that Zmajevo Oko as the place where sea waters and freshwater are mixed is a valuable natural area covering 5,000 square metres. An exhibition of photographs taken of the lake was staged after the discussion in the offices of "Hrvatske Vode". (hina) ms