Cuglieri, captured and killed a protected marine specimen from Altavela: identified

The maritime police section of the Port Authority of Oristano has identified the sport underwater fisherman who, last July, had captured and killed a protected marine specimen called “Gymnura Altavela” (commonly “Altavela”) in Torre del Pozzo in the Municipality of Cuglieri .

The "Altavela" is a marine specimen protected by various international conventions and included in the so-called "red list" IUCN (World Union for the Conservation of Nature); it is similar to the ray, but larger in size and normally finds its natural habitat in tropical or subtropical seas. However, it has recently been discovered through scientific studies that the "Altavela" is also present along the coasts of Sardinia as, indeed, was ascertained last summer on the coast of Cuglieri.

The Captaincy recalls that the killing of this species is a particularly serious conduct as it significantly undermines the conservation of natural habitats and reduces its presence with the risk of a consequent reproductive decline or even extinction of the specimen.

The Oristano Prosecutor's Office took over the investigation, conducted by the soldiers of the maritime police section of the Oristano Port Authority who carried out investigative activities ascertaining the identity of the perpetrator of the crime: he is a citizen who lives abroad and has a "summer" house near the place where the killing of the "Altavela" specimen took place.