Orbetello Lagoon heat wave prompts heightened monitoring but no emergency

Water temperatures in the Orbetello Lagoon have risen to around 28‑30 °C, with air forecasts predicting up to 36 °C in the coming days. Fishermen and local officials warned that the high heat could stress the lagoon’s ecosystem, recalling a fish‑kill event two summers ago.

Mayor Andrea Casamenti said the situation is “stable, there is no emergency but attention remains high,” after a technical‑scientific committee meeting that included regional representatives, ARPAT and WWF. The committee noted water levels at 18‑20 cm, higher than the recent low of 11 cm, and decided to keep the level elevated to aid nidification.

President of the Fishermen’s Cooperative Pier Luigi Piro added, “We are waiting for a significant heat wave and this is a great unknown; we are worried.” Authorities are urging faster implementation of the special law governing the lagoon to enable structural interventions and protect the fragile balance.