Caretta caretta sea turtles continue to die along the Italian coasts, victims of fishing nets and so-called “ghost nets” abandoned at sea. In 2025 alone, according to WWF data, 14 lifeless specimens were recovered along the Apuoversilia coast. The start of 2026 is no better: six stranded turtles have already been found in the first days of the year. The animals had evident abrasions on their fins and neck, consistent with an attempt to free themselves from gillnets left in the water for days or weeks.
According to the WWF, fishing nets represent the main threat to sea turtles. Gianluca Giannelli, president of WWF Massa Carrara, explained:
The Zooprophylactic Institute of Pisa will establish the scientific causes of the deaths, but the marks on the animals and the period in which they were found clearly indicate interaction with the nets.
Intensive fishing and careless gear management increase the risk of entanglement, especially during periods of greatest demand, such as the Christmas holidays.
Critical situation along the entire Tyrrhenian Sea
However, the problem does not only concern Tuscany: lifeless beached turtles have also been reported along the coasts of Lazio, Puglia and Calabria, where the WWF Adopt a Beach project has recovered ghost nets brought back by the currents. In the provinces of Taranto and Bari there are hundreds of dead specimens every year. These data confirm how the threat is widespread and not limited to individual stretches of coast.
To counter the silent massacre, the Port Authority has intensified controls both on land and at sea, while the WWF has announced monitoring projects with divers, diving clubs and nature photographers. Experts underline that new laws and stricter regulations are needed, as well as an integrated approach that combines prevention, net recovery, technological innovation and collaboration with fishermen. Only in this way will it be possible to reduce accidental catches and guarantee the survival of a symbolic species of the Mediterranean.
The turtle deaths are not an isolated problem: fishing nets impact the entire marine ecosystem and, indirectly, coastal communities that depend on sustainable fishing. The conservation of sea turtles thus also becomes a question of collective responsibility, where environmental protection and economic activities must find a balance to guarantee a future for tomorrow’s generations.
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