Enough with children's big-game hunting for small fish and shellfish. "Secchiello Stop" is coming to the beaches (photo)

OPERATION BUCKET STOP

We all played with the bucket. And all, collecting marine animals and molluscs Very precious, we've done damage, which we didn't know about yesterday, but which we're very aware of today. Remember? A trip around the rocks, a mini-dive in very shallow waters and bang, there we are, caught. crabs, small fish, limpetOnce upon a time, these marine animal species roamed the Mediterranean in abundance, and were found everywhere. But now the situation has changed dramatically. So much so that, for example, the limpet, a mollusk much prized for its culinary uses, is protected and cannot be touched.

ALSO READ: When souvenirs are environmental crimes: sand thefts in Sardinia (video)

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT PLAY WITH MARINE ANIMALS

Always keeping to the thread of memory, you will remember how the molluscs and small fish ended up put in the bucket from us children. They died in the sun, as in the meantime we had moved on to another game. And here too, there is a growing awareness of respect for the environment and the balance of the ecosystem, and this must be taken into account. We have understood that 75 percent of the Earth's surface is occupied by the sea: therefore, respecting, protect the sea, from any point of view, means respect and protect the entire planet and ourselves.

From this awareness initiatives such as "Stop Bucket" which is spreading across many Italian seaside resorts, such as the Ligurian Riviera, thanks to the tireless efforts of generous citizens' associations and responsible families. And they are attentive to the good education of their children when they go to the beach. The project is simple and very effective: everywhere, they try to explain to both children and adults, gathering and seeking the consent of families, how much damage can be caused collecting mollusks and small fish in a basket, then leaving them to die. And everywhere they try to spread alternative, for children, fishing with a bucket.

TO KNOW MORE: Beach patrol officers recruited through crowdfunding. They're fighting illegal activities and stopping those who pollute the sea.

EDUCATE CHILDREN TO RESPECT MARINE ANIMALS

Yes, there's no shortage of alternatives. Aside from the classic games with sand and buckets (think castles, towers, and houses built on the beach), you can try to reverse the bucket-hunting paradigm. And instead of going fishing for shellfish and small fish, you can walk with the kids on the beach, venture out to the rocks, and go recover plastic waste Scattered everywhere on the beach and in the sea. They may not be small fish, but by hunting for plastic, not only will we avoid damaging our seas, but we will also be providing an environmental service to the entire community. Something that many, especially the elderly and women, already do.

THOSE WHO HELP SAVE THE SEA AND THE BEACHES:

• Retired Ulisse on the beach in Sardinia: he blocks uncivilized people and collects waste (photos and video)
• Cigarettes on the beach, this is how Paola collects thousands of butts every day. Let's do the same!
• Towel ban on Stintino beach. To stop sand thieves. But then everyone pays...