Massive marble sculptures that were dropped into the Mediterranean to stop illegal fishing are now allowing ecosystems to recover.
A mermaid and a reclining man carved in Carrara marble are hidden deep in the sea off Talamone, Tuscany. They form an underwater museum that is strange and dreamy, together with other statues. They act as silent guardians and protect the sea from illegal trawling at night.
Their nets were weighed down by heavy chains, dragging on the ocean floor. The trawlers removed the Posidonia seagrass meadows, an endemic seagrass that is vital to the marine ecosystem. They also removed the Amazon rainforest equivalent, which absorbs 15 times as much carbon dioxide annually.
It is illegal to do so within three nautical miles from the coast of Italy. However, because it is extremely profitable and difficult to police the 8,000km of coastline in Italy, bottom trawlers continue to operate at night.
Paolo Fanciulli has been a local fisherman, alarmed at the devastation caused the trawlers have caused. He tried numerous ways to stop them including putting concrete bollards in the sea bottom with the help of Talamone. But it wasn’t enough.
He thought that the blocks might have more impact when they were carved and shaped by well-known artists, explained Ippolito, who is a friend of Fanciulli, and president of this non-profit. Casa dei PesciThey also created the, which they did together to protect and preserve the sea. One quarry in Carrara offered 100 large blocks of marble. Artists donated their time, and locals raised funds for the project.
“I thought it was a brilliant idea: it would attract more attention to the problem,” said British stone sculptor Emily Young, who contributed three colossal heads.
The statues provide shelter for fish and plant life with their surfaces. Image: Carlo Bonazza
Talamone now has 39 underwater sculptures, as well as marble blocks, which were lowered in 2015, 2020, and 12 more are available to join them once the funds are raised.
They provide a defense against the trawlers as well as an underwater museum that is accessible to everyone. The statues also provide a structure on which organisms can grow, encouraging more plant life and sea creatures to return.
“The first head, the 18-tonne Weeping Guardian, which was lowered down five years ago, shows a good growth of plant life, including anemones. Fish are making good use of the newly available food and hiding places,” said Young.
We hope that other communities will be inspired by our project to tackle illegal trawling.
Turco stated that the underwater museum has stopped all illegal trawling around Talamone. “But now the pirates have moved north.”
Grosseto, a municipality that is being targeted by trawlers has teamed up with Casa dei Pesci in order to place additional sculptures or blocks on the seabed. They need money.
“We hope that our project can inspire other local communities dealing with illegal trawling around the Mediterranean,” Turco added. “There could be dozens of underwater museums guarding the entire coastline.”
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