Sardinian beaches battle against sand and shell theft
As happens every vacation season in Sardinia, tourists decide to take something from the beach besides a tan and good memories: sand, shells, and pebbles. The problem is that this is forbidden and strictly punished on the Italian island.
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea by area. Its paradise beaches are famous worldwide. Unfortunately, for years, tourists have been taking sand and shells from its beaches by the handful, which is why strict regulations have been in place since 2017 to prevent this practice.
In seaside towns, signs with the rules currently in force in Sardinia are posted. There is also an ongoing information campaign. According to Italian media, it is still not enough.
A huge mistake in Sardinia
Tourists still pack beach "souvenirs" in bags or bottles and try to take them away with impunity. Sometimes they even send these finds by mail, but they are then caught by the authorities, who are very vigilant.
Every year, Italian customs officials at airports and ports confiscate hundreds of kilograms of such loot from tourists. These individuals often offer silly excuses, claiming they didn't know it was not allowed. The penalties for this practice are quite severe, ranging from CAD 720 to CAD 4,300.
Entire suitcases of shells and stones
In recent days, tourists from Italy and Germany were detained for such an escapade. During a check at the port in Olbia, from where they were departing by ferry from Sardinia, it turned out they had suitcases full of shells and stones taken from the coast in the town of Budoni in the Sassari province.
German tourists hid their Sardinian "souvenirs" in a camper they were planning to use to travel towards Genoa.
Everything that was confiscated was sent to the customs agency. From there, the shells and stones will be returned to the beach.
As the Sardegna Rubata e Depredata (Sardinia Looted and Robbed) association reminded, according to the established practice, sand, shells, and stones that are recovered are always returned to the beaches. If their exact origin can be determined, they are even taken back to the specific place.
