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Water quality and coastal environmental crimes in Italy

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2026-10-02 10:39 UTC → 2026-10-03 06:00 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Legambiente’s ‘Mare Monstrum 2026’ and ‘Ecomafia 2026’ reports, based on 2025 data, detail widespread environmental and criminal violations along Italian coasts. While total recorded crimes and administrative offenses showed a roughly 20% decrease compared to 2024, analysts suggest this may reflect a 19.8% decrease in inspections by law enforcement and port authorities rather than a decline in actual activity. The illegal business associated with these crimes is estimated at 11.5 billion euros. Pollution has overtaken illegal construction as the primary threat to marine ecosystems, accounting for approximately 36% of national cases, driven largely by illegal waste management and poor sewage treatment. Other significant issues include the illegal cement cycle, illegal fishing, and navigation code violations. Regional data highlights significant disparities. Campania remains the most affected region, recording 5,636 criminal offenses (15.8% of the national total), with Naples and Salerno leading provincial rankings. The reports note that 235 active clans are involved in sectors such as waste management, cement production, and renewable energy. Campania also leads in green corruption investigations. Sicily ranks second nationally with 3,726 environmental crimes, showing high rates of offenses against animals and archaeological heritage, with Palermo seeing a significant increase in offenses. Calabria follows in fourth place, while Puglia remains a significant area for illegalities. Lazio also ranks fifth nationally with 2,358 offenses, with Rome recording the highest number within the region. In Northern Italy, Liguria has emerged as a notable area, showing a rising trend in environmental crimes and ranking second nationally for crimes against animals. In Emilia-Romagna, the density of maritime crimes is among the highest, recording 2,605 offenses in 2025. In Sicily, environmental groups including WWF Sicilia Nord Orientale and Mediterranea per la Natura have filed a formal appeal against a €10 million PNRR-funded redevelopment project in Messina. They argue that splitting the project into smaller sections to expedite funding violates European directives and fails to provide a comprehensive assessment of the impact on the local lagoon and migratory birds.

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