There are still criminals fishing for dates from the sea (and destroying the Mediterranean)

The latest incident, in order of time, occurred in Trani, where two poaching fishermen were apprehended with 16 kilograms of dates of the sea on board. The date palm, which has been a protected species for years in almost all Mediterranean coastal countries (except Bosnia, where in Neum, the country’s only sea outlet, they are fished in large quantities), continues to be harvested and sold under the table by the pound. We are talking about 50/60 euros per kilo, up to 100/200 when the Christmas season approaches.

A seafood date dish in Neum (Bosnia). Photos by Luna Poggi

ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER
Why is date (Lithophaga lithophaga) harvesting prohibited? These reddish-brown bivalve mollusks (the name date shellfish derives precisely from their resemblance to the fruit), with an intense flavor somewhere between mussel and oyster, settle-very slowly: they take between 15 and 35 years to reach 5 cm in length-inside underwater limestone rocks and live in the embedments in the holes they make.

It is not an endangered species, but its harvesting causes an irreparable environmental disaster: rocks are drilled with jackhammers, mining pliers, and ice picks. Some even resort to explosives.

Screenshot of an old film showing a “date maker” in action with hammer

Take a mask ride in areas that were once rich in dates: we are reminded of the waters in front of Genoa, reduced to a pile of debris, a veritable desert that has compromised the survival of fish, algae and coral. And in some areas of southern Italy, and in the Adriatic, it is even worse. And davastation continues, despite the fact that date fishing has been banned since 1998. There are still those who want to eat dates and there are those who supply this black market with a turnover of hundreds of thousands of euros.

WHAT IS AT RISK
If you are caught red-handed, the fines are steep, rightly so we add: the crime of date fishing can be punished with is imprisonment from 2 months to 2 years or a fine ranging from 2,000 euros to 12,000 euros, in addition to the seizure of the catch and all equipment. Mind you, it is not only the person who catches them who commits a crime, but also the consumer. If you are caught in the act by law enforcement while enjoying a plate of dates, you can be fined.

If you happen to find seafood date dishes in a restaurant, you can report it by calling the Coast Guard or Forestry Service at 1515.

E.R.

NAVIGATE INFORMED!

To stay up-to-date on all the boating news, selected by our editorial staff, sign up for the Motor Boats newsletter! Just click the link below, accept the Privacy Policy, and click the “Subscribe Me” button. You will then receive the best powerboat news on your email, twice a week! It’s free and you can unsubscribe at any time, no obligation! CLICK HERE.

Condividi:

Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

Sei già abbonato?

Iscriviti alla nostra Newsletter

Entra nel Club del Giornale della Vela

Le barche a motore, le sue storie, dal piccolo open ai motoryacht. Iscriviti ora alla nostra newsletter gratuita e ricevere ogni settimana le migliori news selezionate dalla redazione. Inserisci la tua mail qui sotto, accetta la Privacy Policy e clicca sul bottone “iscrivimi”.

Una volta cliccato sul tasto qui sotto controlla la tua casella mail

Privacy*


In evidenza

Può interessarti anche

Honda BF 350A su Ranieri International Next 330 LX

Honda BF350 is Honda’s most powerful new outboard ever

Honda Marine launches its long-awaited top-of-the-line outboard: it is a 350-horsepower, 5,000-displacement V8 (4,952 to be precise) designed for single and multiple applications. A state-of-the-art engine that significantly raises the bar for the Japanese company, which, with this unit, is

Scroll to Top
Iscriviti alla nostra Newsletter

Entra nel Club di Barche a Motore

Otterrai un mese gratis di BAM!

Le barche a motore, le sue storie, dal piccolo open ai motoryacht. Iscriviti ora alla nostra newsletter gratuita e ricevere ogni settimana le migliori news selezionate dalla redazione. Inserisci la tua mail qui sotto, accetta la Privacy Policy e clicca sul bottone “iscrivimi”.

Una volta cliccato sul tasto qui sotto controlla la tua casella mail

Privacy*