TUSCANY'S OCTOPUS HAVEN
The Gulf of Talamone at Orbetello (Tuscany) is the site chosen for the first Italian octopus protected area. The project, set up by a team of scientists and environmentalists operates under the name OCTOPOLIS in collaboration with the Science and Environmental Department of the University of Siena, aims to create safe “houses” for an octopus colony in specially designed clay pots which rest on the seabed and cannot be caught up in fishermen's nets.
Octopuses are constantly caught in drag fishing nets and killed. Global warming of the Mediterranean has also seriously depleted their numbers, due to changes in the marine ecosystem and pollution. The Octopolis project also aims to make the public more aware of the unique qualities of these fascinating marine creatures which have highly developed brains that allow them to solve problems and interact with each other.
The Casa dei Pesce (House of Fish), a non-profit association, founded in 2012 to monitor marine life in the Mediterranean is also involved. Inspired by local activist Paolo Fanciulli, better known as “Paolo il Pescatore”,(Paolo the Fisherman), who stopped illegal drag net fishing in the Orbetello coastal waters by submerging large stone blocks on the seabed. Soon local sculptors began to donate their works to the cause, thus creating an underwater museum with 44 art works, that can be admired by divers.
The Octopolis Project has set up a crowdfunding appeal to help finance further research.
M. STENHOUSE
Info: Tel. +39. 3444071412 https://casadeipesci.it info@casadeipesci.it
