The YouSea Institute aims to share the message — especially with children and families — that animals and plants should not be touched, but rather admired for their color and beauty from a safe distance.
Together with Radio Capris, a responsible local media outlet that has been actively supporting environmental and community initiatives for many years, they joined forces for the campaign “Marine animals are not toys!”, carried out in cooperation with other partners of the consortium Connected for the Sea (Povezani za morje).
The campaign focuses on raising awareness about the vulnerability of marine organisms and the importance of preserving the biodiversity of our sea — especially during the summer months, when the coastal areas are under the greatest pressure.
They have noticed that many visitors to our beaches and coastline — often without realizing the consequences — interfere with marine life by taking animals out of the water, photographing them, or even bringing them home. Through this campaign, they want to send a kind but clear message that even the smallest and least-known sea creatures are an important part of a fragile ecosystem and should be treated with understanding and respect — and only observed, not handled.
Through educational activities and events, they aim to bring the diversity of marine life closer to the public and encourage a respectful attitude toward nature that surrounds us. They believe that through education, positive examples, and cooperation, we can all contribute to the long-term protection of the marine environment.
Why marine animals are not toys
Marine animals are not toys because they are living beings — sensitive and vital to maintaining balance in the marine ecosystem. The goal is to allow children and beach visitors to connect with nature in a non-harmful way — through observation, learning, and respect.
Our sea is home to numerous species — from colorful crabs and sea snails to octopuses, seahorses, and shellfish, such as the noble pen shell (Pinna nobilis), an endangered species reminding us of the importance of preserving biodiversity. This message was also highlighted through the project “In Memory of the Great Ones.”
Many of these species are protected, and even brief contact with humans can make them extremely vulnerable — touching or removing them from the water can seriously harm or even kill them.
Which marine animals live in our sea, and why are they so fragile?
- Seahorses experience severe stress even from touch.
- Removing attached animals or plants from rocks causes their death.
- Octopuses and cuttlefish defend themselves by releasing ink, which weakens them.
- Shells, crabs, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and starfish die quickly when handled or taken out of the water.
Our sea is also home to corals, such as the stony coral, which is an animal — a colony of many tiny polyps. This protected and endangered species is highly sensitive to touch; even minimal contact can damage or slow its growth, while breaking or tearing can cause its death.
Jellyfish are living creatures, too, and they also feel. Like other marine animals, they cannot breathe outside the water, so they should never be removed from the sea. It’s important to keep a safe distance, as some species can sting using their tentacles, which serve both for hunting and self-defense.
Take only memories with you
When it comes to preserving marine life, it’s important to think twice before taking shells or sea snails from the beach. They may seem insignificant, but these natural remnants provide shelter for many creatures, such as hermit crabs. When there aren’t enough empty shells, these crabs turn to plastic waste like bottle caps — a clear example of how human behavior affects marine life.
We also discourage the trade of dried marine animals or their parts, shells, and skeletons. If someone offers you a dried seahorse, starfish, sea urchin, or similar “souvenir,” don’t buy it. Supporting such trade encourages unsustainable practices and contributes to the destruction of marine life.
Contact with living animals should always be respectful and never intrusive.
