Who hasn’t encountered the dolphins of the Adriatic Sea during a boat trip or sailing trip in the Adriatic Sea? Often traveling alone or in pairs near the coast, but also found in larger schools, these intelligent mammals delight us with their seemingly playful antics in the water. The Adriatic dolphins stay along the coast and islands all year round. With a little luck, they will frolic in the bow wave and, much to our delight, seem to race alongside the boat for a moment. These are the beautiful moments that connect us with these intelligent animals. But there is also another side to the story: Adriatic dolphins are still threatened with extinction.
An endangered species
The population has declined dramatically in recent decades due to excessive overfishing and the previously poor water quality. In addition, there are isolated cases of dead animals that have been caught as bycatch in fishing nets or have swallowed pieces of net, plastic bags or other trash.
For years, the endangered population in the northern Adriatic has consisted of an estimated 220 to 280 dolphins, mainly bottlenose dolphins or, in individual cases, the so-called common dolphin, which is slightly smaller than its counterpart and can reach a length of just under four meters. In the southern Adriatic, the number of species increases with the significantly greater depths, where the striped dolphin, which is otherwise more commonly sighted in the Mediterranean, is strongly represented.
Competitors of fishermen
Until the 1960s, these clever and fascinating marine mammals were considered competitors by fishermen and hunted to extinction. Even in recent years, isolated images of shot dolphins still appear in public. Fishermen and regional politicians, who now speak of an “excessive dolphin population” (!) along the Slovenian-Croatian coast, continue to complain that the marine mammals are one of the main reasons for empty nets and that the number of dolphins is far higher than the figures published by authorities and organizations, and therefore demand that the “problem” be eliminated.
In contrast, the figures cited by aid organizations, scientists, and ministries, which have been thoroughly cross-checked, are considered reliable. The problems lie primarily in decades of relentless overfishing. In the meantime, programs have been set up for fishermen, ranging from financial compensation to EU-funded conversion from fishing to commercial dolphin tours. This type of tourism is also a good way to see dolphins in the wild and, last but not least, to learn more about these fascinating animals.
Protection and help
In order to ensure the long-term survival of the Adriatic dolphin population, the ecosystem must be further revitalized and we humans must be encouraged to think and act responsibly. This has been an ambitious goal from the outset, one that can only be achieved with the involvement of all stakeholders from politics and business—and, last but not least, the people living on the Adriatic coast. The non-profit Gesellschaft zur Rettung der Delfine e. V. (GRD) (Society for the Rescue of Dolphins), founded by circumnavigator Rollo Gebhard (1921-2013), together with its local protection and project partners in Croatia, has been working since 1999 to preserve this small population and establish protected areas where fishing and motorboating are prohibited.
The GRD has published a guide on the subject, which includes information on how to behave appropriately when encountering dolphins and also lists Croatian emergency telephone numbers, for example, to report an injured animal; but also, if necessary, to report any misconduct observed during a dolphin encounter. (GRD app, GRD YouTube)
Dolphin sightings in the Adriatic Sea in 2025
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The interactive map shows dolphin sightings in the Adriatic Sea – 2025. (The icon at the top left opens the sidebar, the icon at the top right opens the map in full screen)
The great fascination
Observing these special animals is an unforgettable experience for young and old alike, and anyone who wants to see them must first understand and respect their habitat and behavior. Dolphins and all marine mammals in general have been protected by law since 1995, and swimming with them is prohibited in Croatia.
Behavior when sighting dolphins
There are basic rules for behavior when encountering dolphins, which help to avoid disturbing the animals in their natural habitat or even changing their behavior through misconduct: If dolphins are seen nearby, abrupt changes in direction or rapid approaches to the animals must be avoided.
For observation, the lever should be set to neutral and, of course, the animals must not be lured or fed; they always need sufficient space to move around and, of course, it must always be left to the dolphins to approach boats and people. And if the dolphins move away again, do not follow them under any circumstances. For the welfare of the animals, respectful and appropriate behavior must always be a priority, because we are moving in their habitat. Let’s enjoy the beautiful moment with this extraordinary natural treasure that the Croatian Adriatic offers us with these animals.
