by Rita Murgese (Press Officer for Legambiente National for the Atlas of Wars)
Italy’s coastlines and marine environments are increasingly threatened by environmental crimes, as shown by a sharp rise in offenses in 2023, a ‘red-alert’ year for the Mediterranean.
A total of 22,956 crimes were reported by law enforcement and the Coast Guard, marking a 29.7% increase compared to 2022. Including administrative violations, this amounts to an average of 8.4 offenses per kilometer of coastline, or one every 119 meters. The illegal building sector (10,257 crimes, up 11.2% from 2022), illegal waste disposal and sea pollution (6,372 offenses, up 59.3%), and illegal fishing (4,268 criminal offenses, up 11.3%) are the most common violations. Boating regulations were also frequently breached, with 2,059 criminal offenses recorded in 2023, a staggering 230% increase compared to 2022.
This alarming picture is depicted in the new Mare Monstrum 2024 report (in Italian), presented by Legambiente (in Italian) on the eve of the 14th anniversary of The murder of Angelo Vassallo (Since the year of his appointment, in the Municipality of Pollica that he was then administering), by Slow Food. The story of his unresolved criminal case at the judicial level because it was caused by still unknown hands. He was the ‘mayor-fisherman’ of Pollica in the province of Salerno, to honour his legacy in fighting corruption and environmental crime.
In response, Legambiente is proposing a package of ten measures focusing on four key areas: 1) combating illegal construction by speeding up the demolition of unauthorised buildings and providing funds to municipalities enforcing demolition orders; 2) tackling inadequate wastewater treatment by overhauling the entire management system; 3) addressing marine litter, especially waste generated by ships, to prevent it from being dumped into the sea; and 4) cracking down on illegal fishing through stronger regulations and more effective penalties.
Cover photo by Legambiente 2024
Download your free copy of our Mare Nostrum 2024 report (in Italian)
