(Editor’s note: This post about SeaCras is part of our Tech Tuesday series. Dispatches covers tech because so many of our highly skilled internationals are founders and innovators.)
If there’s one thing Croatia is known for, it’s its astonishing coastline. This country has been tied to the sea since time began. Maritime traditions stretch further back into the past than can be measured, with generation after generation living by, with, for and because of the sea. So, it only makes sense that a Croatian startup should harness the most advanced modern tech in order to protect that same sea which is threatened by equally modern issues.
SeaCras, based in Zagreb, is an innovative startup which detects unwanted alterations in the sea such as pollution, harmful emissions and the effects of damaging human activities using both AI and satellites. Linking space and the sea – few would have imagined a Croatian startup doing something so sci-fi-like, and to have already been doing it for six years.
It wasn’t long before their system was duly recognised and also used outside Croatia, seeing SeaCras become the only Croatian spacetech company listed among the Top 10 in all of Europe.
“What we do is analyse satellite imagery of the sea using AI. We use high-resolution satellite imagery and AI algorithms to detect and display insights into the state of the sea at given locations,” stated SeaCras’ CEO Mario Špadina in a conversation with tportal. “We look at water quality, pollution, blooms and human impact like the consequences of anchoring,”
Global recognition for a Croatian startup
SeaCras can now boast of the direct involvement of 15 interdisciplinary experts – from oceanographers and geographers, to data scientists and engineers, all the way to communication experts. It isn’t a surprise that they rose to global fame quickly. SeaCras now enjoys a truly global reach. The World Economic Forum included it among the Top 5 innovators of the regenerative blue economy back in 2024. They’re also the only Croatian startup among the Top 10 European spacetech companies for 2025.
“The real indicator of our success is the specific problems we’ve managed to solve,” noted Špadina, adding that SeaCras technologies are at least a few years ahead of the scientific standard. Their analyses are used in both the private and public sectors; from marinas and ports to nature parks and state institutions. They’re even used in the cruise sector. “Our work isn’t just a classic service and we often operate through public-private partnerships. We’re geographically present in Croatia and across the Mediterranean, but you’ll also find us in Central America and even in the Middle East,” Špadina said.
A promising future global leader in maritime monitoring
SeaCras’ business strategy is to expand its technology to other water habitats such as lakes, rivers, coral reefs, mangroves, etc. They also want to contribute to the field of defense and security, and have taken the first steps in that regard, according to Špadina. He added that every year, they develop new technologies and upgrade all of their existing systems to outsmart the competition and stay ahead of what is otherwise a very demanding game.
“Our goal is to use the environment responsibly and with minimal negative impact implied. We’re continuously investing our own funds to finance growth, which, along with certain strategic investments, has resulted in SeaCras remaining a 100 percent Croatian, export-oriented product,” stated Špadina.
Checking the sea quality using SeaCras’ app
Just this past summer, SeaCras and its partners launched a project in Zavratnica Bay near Jablanac. It allowed visitors to check the quality of the sea in real time via a QR code. “People love simplicity, and they can just scan and see if the sea is clean or if there are any other issues in that location,” said Špadina, noting that current data confirms the quality of the sea plays a crucial role in when people choose a destination and in tourist satisfaction.
“We’re constantly learning about the collective consciousness and the general behaviour of guests and listening to their voices in order to know what to do in the future and how to further build our products and coverage,” said the CEO.
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Lauren Simmonds
Lauren Simmonds is the editor of Total Croatia News, the largest English language portal in Croatia. She lives in Zagreb, Croatia, and is a translator, content writer, interpreter and the co-author of "Croatia - A Survival Kit for Foreigners," which was published in 2022.
