A bin, glasses and plastic bags: this is the distressing loot that Alessio recovered this afternoon during his usual canoe trip from Geremeas to Mari Pintau, along the coasts of eastern Sardinia. «It was supposed to be a relaxing walk», says Alessio, still shaken, «instead, together with two other friends I found myself having to collect surface plastic». Dismayed, he assures that he has never seen a similar situation in this area. «Along the way we met two teenagers on sup: they also collected many glasses. It's shameful."

The crystalline sea of the island, famous for its infinite shades of blue, thus finds itself suffocated by plastic waste. What should be one of the most pristine natural wonders, a paradise for tourists and residents, is increasingly threatened by neglect and lack of respect for the environment.

The experience of the man, a professional from Cagliari, is not an isolated one. Similar episodes, in fact, repeat themselves with alarming regularity, signaling a problem that can no longer be ignored. «Plastic not only disfigures the landscape, but represents a serious danger for marine fauna and, consequently, for the entire ecosystem», recalls the man.

The collection of waste by willing citizens, like Alessio and the two young people on SUP, is admirable and fundamental. But it's not enough. Greater collective awareness and, above all, concrete interventions are needed to protect the sea and its creatures. «Only with a common effort can we hope to preserve the natural beauty of the Sardinian coasts for future generations».

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