Mid-August with mucilage in the Adriatic Sea, the expert:“Overcome the worst”

At the height of the summer the nightmare for tourism and fishing has returned:the mucilage.From north to south, there were numerous reports in these August days.But the first storms are expected to 'clean' the sea

by Cristina Rossi and Cristiano Somaschini

RIMINI - They are back mucilage In the Adriatic Sea, from north to south, from the Slavic coasts to the Italian ones, in a more or less evident way, and due to their peak of "flowering" it seems that they have chosen the most important weeks for the summer tourist season, those of August, on the eve of August.And in short, although experts lose their voice to say that they are not dangerous for health, their massive presence in the sea makes it difficult to swim in the sea, even for the less 'demanding':the idea they give is to immerse yourself in the "slime", which children like so much, but the slime has a greenish-yellowish colour, in short, not very pleasant.

IN THE AFFECTED LOCATIONS, HOTEL POOLS AND BEACH FACILITIES ARE ASSAULTED

The reports date back to the beginning of July but continue to be sighted on the Italian coast, even more frequently:fromAbruzzo at Marche, in Veneto and on Trieste coast and also in Romagna Riviera.But even the coasts beyond the Adriatic are not free from it.Thus, in tourist resorts, the swimming pools of hotels or of the same bathing establishments that have been equipped are under attack, particularly in Romagna, precisely because of the years in which the mucilages were at their best, starting from the 90s .At least tourists and residents can face the peak of the summer heat by soaking, even if not in the sea water which, in particular, starting from the hottest hours of the day, is tinged with the bloom of mucilage.

THE DAPHNE-ARPAE EXPERT:“NATURAL PHENOMENON, THE WHOLE ADRIATIC SEA INVOLVED”

The return of mucilage to the Adriatic coasts it is one of the "troubles" that the seaside tourism sector is experiencing this summer, in Romagna as in the other coastal regions.And on the topic, precisely from Romagna, those who have been studying it for years try to clarify, Cristina Mazziotti, responsible for the oceanographic structure Daphne of Arpae.As he explains from Rimini, during the presentation of the data on the state of health of the sea collected by Green Schooner Of Legambiente, it is a f“natural” phenomenon whose causes are “difficult to explain”.

Like Daphne, she recalls, “we followed the cases of late 90s, 2014 and 2018, which were heavier."Everything, he continues, starts at the end of June from Croatia and Slovenia, where among other things there are no rivers that flow into the sea.Therefore, he comments, we need to be "cautious" about the responsibility of the hinterland.The Levantine current which dates back from Italy then brought the mucilage to Italy'Albania and essentially "bring over here what's over there".And indeed “the whole Adriatic is involved“.

WHAT ARE MUCILLAGES?

It's about excretions from phytoplanton, the microalgae begin to produce mucilage in enormous quantities and i reasons are difficult to identify, precisely.There is, Mazziotti explains, an imbalance between fresh and salt water values, and winds and currents are fundamental.THEin the morning the mucilage is underwater and resurfaces with the sun for photosynthesis.When it then settles, for example on cliffs where it is difficult for it to escape, it creates a smell and worries people when they bathe.Mazziotti's advice is to "use common sense", as always, the mucilage is composed of sugars and over time, "like a slice of apple", it oxidizes.

“PHENOMENON ONGOING BUT WE HAVE OVERCOME THE WORST”

The phenomenon, he concludes, is “still ongoing, has passed into the second phase and we have bypassed the worst“.Of course, concern remains high on the beach.For example a Cesenatico, in the province of Forlì-Cesena, is a "big critical issue", admits the deputy mayor Lorenza Fantozzi.Also because "transferring the right information externally is not easy".We try to “understand the problem and the discharges are monitored.It is a phenomenon that can be frightening but it is normal."Also to Misano Adriatico in the Rimini area, adds the Environment Councilor Nicola Schivardi, hotels and lifeguards blame the discharges and do not believe in a natural phenomenon.The problem of mucilage is "very complex", confirms the regional president of Legambiente Davide Ferraresi, due to "a series of factors that combine, such as temperatures and quantities of nutrients arriving from the rivers", while the correlation with intense and abundant rainfall is an "element to be monitored but finding a correlation is difficult", he concludes.

WHEN WILL THEY LEAVE?

But the question for everyone, from tourists to tour operators, residents and fishermen is:“When will the mucilage go away?” Try to give an answer Emilia Romagna Weather Center according to which “there is good news:the phenomenon is generally attenuated", even if, "pFor a definitive cessation we will have to wait for the first storms which are more typical of the autumn period".The advice is to swim in the morning, when "after a night in which the currents are weak and directed offshore, the water is often clear".

THE MUCILLAGE TAKEN BY THE SATELLITE

Last August 7, the image of Sentinel-2 satellite of theEuropean Copernicus agency shows both mucilage (in white) and phytoplankton blooms (in green) off the coast of Rimini.

NOT JUST BLUE CRAB, FOR FISHING IT IS A "NEW EMERGENCY"

The massive presence of mucilage does not only damage tourism.It represents a new emergency for the fishing activities, damages boats and compromises the life of marine species.There are those who even ask for government intervention, "to limit the damage".AND Unci Agro-Alimentare by voice of Gennaro Scognamiglio, national president.“The viscous substance – explains the manager of the cooperative sector association – produced by microalgae, during a natural process of aggregation and decomposition, proliferates in a particular way in the presence of certain climatic conditions, creating thickenings on the surface and on the seabed.In recent weeks, the phenomenon initially limited to some areas is rapidly spreading throughout the Adriatic and Ionian.The reports reaching us from the territories are multiplying, fueling strong concern among workers and companies in the sector, which appears increasingly on its knees.With the Blue Crab emergency still ongoing, the economic and structural difficulties of fishing weighing on the activity on a daily basis, this further criticality places the sector faced with an insurmountable crisis, despite efforts being made to get back on top with great efforts, also thanks to a relaunch process, shared with the Ministry of Agriculture.THE'activation of the crisis unit, therefore, appears highly appropriate in this situation, to prepare suitable measures to protect the affected operators, consider the possibility of bringing forward the measure to stop fishing, for the most exposed segments, and evaluate other solutions aimed at reducing the damage".