When Sunday evening Papa Francesco to "What's the weather like" appealed against plastic in the sea, the association Marevivo he immediately thought of relaunch the petition for the Salvamare law. The Pope recalled a meeting with the fishermen of San Benedetto del Tronto to underline that incorrect behavior kills the earth, while "we must protect biodiversity, we must take care of creation". It is not unusual for Pope Francis to speak of the environment and "social degradation", themes related to the ills of the planet. His encyclical Laudato si ' of 2015 is an essential text for environmental thought where secular and Catholic principles are "united by the same concern". Years later, that text is studied in universities and discussed in international symposiums. However, says Marevivo today, Fabio Fazio's intervention in the broadcast gave a new starting point for reflection on the drama linked to the ever-increasing amount of plastic in the sea and the damage caused by pollution.
I plastic damage in the sea
Everyday 731 tons of plastic flood the Mediterranean, becoming microplastics that end up on the beaches, are ingested by fish and end up on our plates. According to UN estimates, the economic damage caused by marine litter exceeds i 61 million euros per day. The agri-food chain, not only in Italy, is seriously compromised. The testimony of the fishermen of San Benedetto who work hard to remove bottles and other things from the nets is just one of many initiatives of sustainability in recent years.
What the Salvamare Law provides
But there is a void that does not help the efforts of seafarers and associations: there is no law, essential in a country that has programs and money allocated to the environment and biodiversity. The Salvamare Law, explains Marevivo, it would allow fishermen to bring the plastic recovered with nets ashore. From the boats, unfortunately, today the dirt is thrown back into the sea, otherwise the crews they would be accused of illegal transport of waste and would be forced to pay for its disposal.
The provision also provides the installation of collection systems at the mouth of rivers to intercept waste before it reaches the sea. Other regulations concern education, cleaning campaigns, desalination plants, microfiber pollution, and other aspects that also move the economy.
Parliament delays
The law began its parliamentary journey with the approval in the Senate on 8 November 2021, but has since stop in the House. Meanwhile, another 61 tonnes of plastic ended up in the sea. In short, Parliament has not shown itself to be quick, despite dozens of organizations together with Marevivo - from the Federation of the Sea to Assonave, passing through Assoporti, Confindustria Nautica, Federpesca, Lega Navale and others - support it decisively. Even the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella in his speech to Parliament on 3 February he spoke of a country committed "to the defense of the environment, biodiversity and ecosystems".
Since yesterday, therefore, it has started again strongly on the Marevivo website the petition, which already counts 55 thousand signatures. “It is a paradoxical and unacceptable situation – say the promoters – Isn't it enough for us to know that microplastics have arrived everywhere, in the air we breathe, in the water we drink, in the food we eat?”.
