09.10.2026 - Taranto
Awareness Campaign about marine plastic pollution
An initiative by the CNR IRBIM in Torregrande, Oristano
Plastic pollution in our seas poses a lethal threat to marine life, particularly to Caretta caretta loggerhead sea turtles. Andrea De Lucia and Andrea Camedda from the CNR Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology (IRBIM), based in Torregrande (Oristano), are raising a new alarm over the devastating impact of plastic waste, launching an important awareness campaign against littering at sea and along the coast. The initiative is part of the activities carried out by CReS (Regional Centre for Turtle and Cetacean Recovery). , a facility created through the collaboration between the Sinis Peninsula – Mal di Ventre Island Marine Protected Area and the CNR IRBIM of Oristano. The studies conducted highlight a critical situation: floating bags, packaging, and plastic fragments are mistaken by turtles for food, like the jellyfish they commonly feed on. The ingestion of these materials causes severe intestinal blockages, malnutrition, and often the death of the animal, alongside frequent cases of suffocation and entanglement in abandoned or lost fishing gear. To counter the emergency, the campaign aims to directly involve citizens, tourists, and local communities. The action plan focuses on education on land-based prevention to eliminate disposable plastics and ensure proper waste disposal, but also on cooperation with fishermen to encourage the recovery of plastics caught in their nets during fishing trips. Finally, researchers urge boaters and swimmers to promptly report the presence of injured or visibly distressed turtles to the recovery centers. The protection of the marine ecosystem depends on individual actions: stopping the flow of waste before it reaches the water is the only way to ensure the survival of this iconic Mediterranean species. Here is the link to the RAI Sardegna report.