The residents of Bol on the island of Brac have launched a petition, “Save Zlatni Rat,” claiming that changes to one of Croatia’s most treasured natural landmarks are becoming increasingly visible.  

According to the petition, the Zlatni Rat beach has been drastically altered from what it once was and that without urgent intervention the beautiful beach could be lost forever. 

The issue is of such high concern for residents due to the fact that the main source of income for the island is tourism, so preserving Zlatni Rat directly impacts the future of the local community and their economic survival. 

Photographs clearly show how the beach has changed over time, with the shape having been significantly altered, resulting in a dramatic transformation to the iconic form that has long been the symbol of Bol. 

The petition has called for several implementations that they believe will reduce the impact on the seabed.

Recent visitors to the beach have raised concerns through Tripadvisor reviews that the beach has become too overcrowded, which will have led to damage to the beach’s integrity. Shipping and anchoring have also been highlighted as having negative long-term consequences. 

The impact of climate change is also contributing to the issue, adding urgency to the matter. 

“The Gold Horn is not what it used to be, and if we don’t take immediate action, we could lose this natural treasure forever,” the petition reads. 

“Right here we can try to help the beach to return to its original form. It is something we can and must do. The beach has given us a lot all these years – both to tourism and to each of us individually, because Zlatni Rat has something magical in it that makes us always happy to return to it,” the petitioners continued. 

They have highlighted several solutions which they believe theft can apply immediately. These include the placement of marked anchoring zones away from the beach to minimise the impact on the seabed. They also wish to promote the use of alternative anchoring methods such as floating pontoons.

They have also called for the introduction of stricter anchoring rules for all ships near the beach, with clear sanctions for violators. 

Regular monitoring and research of the marine ecosystem is also being flagged as key in order to recognise new threats in time and enable quick action.

Campaigners also hope to raise awareness among local authorities and tourists about the importance of preserving the beach and the negative consequences of anchoring in inappropriate locations. 

The petition read: “We expect that all construction projects near or around the beach will involve experts and scientists before granting any concessions.

“These measures can immediately help reduce damage and protect the Golden Horn until long-term solutions are found.”

During the peak of the summer season, as many as 10,000 tourists visit Zlatni Rat every day.