An end to plastic bags, cups, plates and cutlery on the Pelagian Islands, Italy's southernmost archipelago. The decision was taken by Salvatore Martello, mayor of Lampedusa and Linosa, who announced: "On the islands, the sale and use of non-biodegradable single-use containers and tableware, and of shoppers — polyethylene carrier bags — will be banned," at a fishing conference recently held in Palermo.

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A historic decision for Lampedusa and Linosa

The decision taken by the mayor, backed by EU provisions moving in this direction, stems from the need to facilitate waste sorting, waste disposal and the reduction of plastic pollution in our sea, which is already having severe repercussions on marine fauna and, consequently, on fishing-related activities.

Plastics banned from 31 August

The ban comes into force on 31 August 2018 under the mayoral ordinance of 2 July, signed by Mayor Martello, which prohibits the sale and use of non-biodegradable single-use tableware, cups and cutlery. The ban also applies to plastic bags, which must be replaced by bags made of paper, cloth or another suitable material.

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"I understand that for residents, tourists, businesses and tradespeople this will be a 'small revolution'," the mayor explained, "but it is a necessary measure: we all need to learn to adopt new daily habits in order to respect the environment and improve our quality of life."

The alliance with fishermen

The mayor also announced that measures are planned in collaboration between fishermen belonging to the Lampedusa and Linosa fishing consortium and the local authorities, to encourage the collection of plastics found at sea and their delivery to dedicated sites. The same applies to those who collect lines or "ghost" nets — those that break apart and end up on the seabed.

"Fishermen know the sea. For them, the sea is life, work, tradition and future. For this reason I believe it is necessary to work on a project that encourages fishermen to be also — forgive me for the term — the new 'street sweepers of the sea'," said Martello.

Alliances of this kind are not new in Italy. The fishermen of Livorno already collect between 200 and 300 kilograms of plastic per day, caught up in their nets, and bring it ashore to be recycled rather than throwing it back into the sea.