Alen Soldo, a professor at the University of Split’s Department of Marine Studies, tirelessly works to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the sea and its inhabitants. His fascination with the ocean and marine life, particularly sharks, has shaped his career. In this interview, he reveals how his love for the sea began, which expedition nearly cost him his life, and what he aims to achieve with his work.

How did your love for the sea begin?

Soldo doesn’t recall the exact moment he fell in love with the sea, assuming it started at birth. Watching his children, who learned to swim before they could walk, he concludes that this love for the sea is genetically ingrained. Growing up in Split, life without the sea was unimaginable for him.

Did you study the sea and its creatures as a child, or did that come later?

Soldo doesn’t remember his first diving masks, but he vividly recalls spending more time underwater than on the surface. Over time, he managed to combine his passion for diving with his profession, resulting in much of his scientific work being based on research involving diving methods.

Where did you attend elementary and high school?

He completed elementary school in Podstrana, a suburb of Split, and attended high school in Split, at the then-called "old Realki."

How did you decide that the sea would be your professional path?

Soldo admits that when he was choosing a college, there were no marine studies programs in Croatia, except for a specialization at the Faculty of Chemical Technology. Fortunately, during his first year of studies, a new program in Marine and Fisheries Technology was launched, and he immediately switched to it.

Which subjects were you most interested in during your studies?

Soldo was fascinated by all the specialized subjects, including nautical ones. He realized early on that to fully understand marine processes, interdisciplinary knowledge was necessary. His ability to predict marine phenomena has earned him the nickname "the doom prophet" in the media.

Where did you go for your first field research?

His first field research was in the Velebit Channel in the late '90s, during a time of tension between fishermen using different fishing gear. He gained invaluable experience and learned a lot about the difficult life of fishermen.

What was the most dangerous expedition, and what happened?

Soldo describes a dangerous expedition in the early 2000s when he was researching lobster habitats. Due to nitrogen narcosis, which he experienced while diving at a depth of 70 meters, he nearly lost his life. However, he managed to regain enough awareness to save himself and now shares his experience to warn others about the dangers faced by divers.

In which seas have you conducted research, and which expedition is your favorite?

Soldo has conducted research in seas around the world, except the Antarctic. It’s difficult for him to pick a favorite, but he particularly highlights the experience of diving with a great white shark in South Africa. This was a childhood dream that left a deep impression on him.

Which marine creatures fascinate you the most, and why?

For Soldo, sharks are a particularly special group of organisms that he admires. He considers them to be nearly perfect creatures that are now under significant threat from humans. Protecting sharks is one of his main goals, and through various organizations, he works to raise awareness about their importance.

What do you hope to achieve with your work?

Soldo wants people to understand that although we live on what is called "Earth," our planet is actually "Sea," with 71% of its surface covered by water. He regrets that people often treat the ocean as something distant and lifeless. He emphasizes that the majority of the oxygen on Earth comes from the sea and that climate change directly depends on it. He also points out the rapid urbanization of the coastline, which negatively impacts the marine environment. Soldo believes that important issues like marine protection are not sufficiently discussed publicly, while politicians focus on less important topics.

What behaviors toward the sea and marine life bother you the most?

Soldo criticizes politicians who only focus on the sea during their summer vacations. Despite the numerous laws protecting the Adriatic Sea, he believes they are not consistently enforced. He also condemns the way environmental impact studies are conducted, often favoring investors over protecting the sea. He proposes a change in this process to ensure impartiality in creating such studies, but he doubts this will happen soon.

Source: 24sata.hr, 10.08.2024.