Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting La Sacca degli Scardovari in the beautiful Parco del Delta del Po, situated in my native region of Veneto. I got to know the reality of this small, isolated piece of land and water, where the Po delta flows into the Adriatic Sea, creating a natural oasis of lagoon landscapes and life-rich waters.
Diego, the fisherman who guided us through the lagoon on his boat, is cultivating mussels and oysters using traditional methods, and drawing inspiration from an innovative system to nurture the pink oyster of Tarbouriech, increasingly renowned in the area. This owes much to the efforts of Alessio Greguoldo, a visionary entrepreneur. Greguoldo has devised a system of suspended rows over water, alternating immersion with exposure to air. This mimics the Atlantic tides, the natural habitat of these oysters.
But not everything comes easy: the blue crab, an invasive species destroying the delicate balance of these waters and their inhabitants, as well as pollution and illegal fishing, are key challenges faced in this area. Diego tells us more about these issues, explaining that while there is great potential for this business and clear environmental and socio-economic benefits, much work is needed to overcome these difficulties.
Regional and European projects, alongside collaboration with university researchers, can be important tools to support this work and demonstrate its positive impact on nature and local communities.
In addition, this kind of experiences which bring people closer to the essence of a place and its natural environment, promote a slower type of tourism, which allows the traveller to explore, to taste, to gain knowledge about a territory and its intricate weave of possibilities and challenges, of compromises and efforts. It supports a new culture which goes beyond the pure touristic entertainment and standardised offers and embraces locality, specialty and authenticity.
A great pleasure for me to share this story that speaks about tradition and innovation, old narratives and new inspirations, research and sustainability. At the centre, the passion for the sea and its diverse ecosystems, which require care and protection to regenerate, ensuring they can sustain the livelihoods of the communities depending on them.
