In Porto Torres, during checks leaving for Toulon, officials from the Customs and Monopolies Agency stopped a 69-year-old French tourist and found in her car over 40 kilos of sand, pebbles and stones illegally taken from the beaches of Sardinia. The material was hidden under the seats and in the trunk of the car ready to board the Corsica Ferries ferry.
According to what emerged from the checks, everything came from the Saline di Stintino beach, one of the most delicate and well-known coastal stretches in the north of the island. Among the seized finds there were also small white pebbles similar to grains of rice, as well as sea sand and shells collected directly from the beach.
Sardinian beaches protected by a strict law
In Sardinia the removal of natural elements from the beaches is not a lighthearted matter nor a simple symbolic infraction. In fact, since 2017 Regional Law No. 16 has been in force, which expressly prohibits taking away sand, shells, stones and pebbles without authorization. A rule created to defend a fragile coastal ecosystem continually threatened by uncontrolled tourism.
An administrative fine was therefore imposed for the tourist which could range from 500 to 3,000 euros. The seized material was entrusted to the customs offices of Porto Torres and in the next few days it will be returned to the beach of origin with a repositioning operation organized together with the local authorities.
A phenomenon that continues to worry the island
What happened in Porto Torres is not an isolated episode. Every year, especially during the summer season, Sardinian authorities intercept travelers who attempt to leave the island with bottles filled with sand, bags of shells or entire loads of pebbles. A gesture that many consider harmless, but which over time contributes to impoverishing the beaches and altering the natural balance of the coast.
The beaches of Sardinia, famous for their very light colors and the unique composition of the sand, are an environmental heritage to be protected with particular attention. This is also why checks at ports and airports have become increasingly frequent, especially during periods of greatest tourist influx. And while the finds will soon return to the Saline beach, an increasingly clear message remains for tourists: in Sardinia the sea can be photographed, experienced and admired, but not taken away in pieces.
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