Approximately 70,000 sea urchins were illegally caught within the Sinis Peninsula and Mal di Ventre Island Marine Protected Area. The Oristano Prosecutor's Office, following a complex investigation coordinated by Public Prosecutor Valerio Bagattini, has requested the indictment of two suspects accused of compromising the area's delicate ecosystem.

The investigation, conducted by the Oristano Forestry and Environmental Monitoring Station with the support of the Barracelli of Cabras, uncovered an alleged system of systematic illegal harvesting , which would have also included the processing and subsequent marketing of the product, partly destined for the local market and some restaurants.

Over the course of approximately four months, illegal fishing is thought to have affected approximately 70,000 specimens, concentrated primarily in Zone B of the marine protected area , where the law absolutely prohibits all fishing activities . The contribution of consultants from the CNR (National Research Council) in Oristano-Torregrande was crucial to the legal characterization of the case. The analyses highlighted a drastic decline in the sea urchin population and a direct correlation between the reduction in commercial-sized specimens and the illegal fishing activity documented by investigators.

The charge of environmental pollution marks a historic step forward in the protection of Sardinian territory. This crime carries severe penalties: imprisonment from two to six years and fines ranging from €10,000 to €100,000 . In addition to pollution, the suspects were also charged with misdemeanor offenses related to illegal fishing in a protected area and the sale of poorly preserved food.

(Unioneonline/vf)

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