BLUEFISHERS PROJECT TO REDUCE MARINE POLLUTION IN MARINA DI CARRARA
Press release from MareVivo!
“BLUEFISHERS”: MAREVIVO AIMS TO REDUCE MARINE POLLUTION FROM POLYSTYRENE IN MARINA DI CARRARA
With this initiative, all Tuscan small-scale artisanal fishing cooperatives are involved
Rome, October 6, 2025 – In the seafood sector, Italy unfortunately holds a sad European record: it is the country with the highest consumption of expanded polystyrene (EPS). EPS is among the most widespread pollutants in the sea and along coastlines due to its easy dispersion, fragility, and low recycling rates. Every year, the Italian fishing fleet uses approximately 14,000 tons of expanded polystyrene, corresponding to nearly 50 million single-use crates used for transporting and marketing seafood. The issue is highlighted by the Marevivo Foundation, which, through its “Bluefishers” campaign, aims to urge the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forestry to intervene and limit the number of polystyrene crates in circulation by replacing them with reusable and recyclable alternatives.
Today, this initiative arrives in Marina di Carrara, where 15 fishermen from the Alta Marea Cooperative will receive over 500 polypropylene crates and phase out polystyrene ones. This is made possible thanks to the contribution of the Tuscany Environment Foundation, which has supported the campaign since its launch in 2023 in Viareggio. The official handover took place this morning in Marina di Carrara at the Conference Room of the Eastern Ligurian Sea Port Authority’s Local Office, which hosted the event and welcomed participants with opening remarks from Luca Perfetti of the Eastern Ligurian Sea Port Authority. To date in Tuscany, 120 small-scale artisanal fishermen have joined the initiative and now exclusively use the more than 3,200 reusable crates donated through contributions from the Tuscany Environment Foundation and Rotary Tuscany District 2071 – District 2110.
The event was attended by Councilor Lara Benfatto representing the Municipality of Carrara, Marina Gridelli, Head of the Marevivo Tuscany Delegation, Laura Lo Presti, Executive Director of the Tuscany Environment Foundation, Alessandra Malfatti representing Fedagripesca Toscana, and Commander Tommaso Pisino of the Marina di Carrara Coast Guard.
The “Bluefishers” campaign seeks to address a concrete and often underestimated problem, despite its severe environmental impact. It aims to raise awareness among the public and policymakers about the urgent need to phase out EPS crates in the fishing sector, starting directly with key stakeholders—the fishermen—to foster shared and sustainable practices.
“In Tuscany, through Bluefishers, virtually all small-scale artisanal fishing cooperatives have been involved in a virtuous path toward sustainability. Marevivo, with the support of funders and the trust and openness of the fishermen, is doing everything in its power to help reduce polystyrene pollution,” explains Marina Gridelli, Head of the Marevivo Tuscany Regional Delegation. “However, regional and national institutions must now do their part as well. We know the path is long and complex, but given the sector’s engagement, the road ahead seems well-paved.”
Although the European Union has introduced regulations against single-use plastics under Directive EU 2019/904 (SUP Directive), there are currently no laws in Italy or internationally that explicitly ban the use of polystyrene in the fishing sector.
“The Tuscany Environment Foundation is supporting the Bluefishers campaign for the second time because plastic represents a global environmental emergency. Instead of reducing it, we continue to increase its production,” states Laura Lo Presti, Executive Director of the Tuscany Environment Foundation. “We believe it is essential to demonstrate through concrete actions that viable alternatives exist to reverse this trend, moving beyond the indiscriminate use of single-use products toward reuse-based solutions. The future must be built away from the linear economy—which extracts, produces, and disposes incessantly—and toward circular systems that preserve and regenerate resources, just as the European Union asks us to do, benefiting both our health and the local economy.”
“Confcooperative-Federagripesca Toscana has embarked, through its member businesses, on a transition journey toward environmental sustainability. In these difficult times for economic activities, the fishing sector is striving to do its part to protect our environment,” states Alessandra Malfatti, Representative of Federagripesca Toscana. “The Bluefishers campaign represents a major change for the sector, challenging deep-rooted work habits. However, the awareness that each of us must do our part to safeguard the planet encourages us to embrace this change.”
“Using reusable crates instead of polystyrene ones can drastically reduce marine pollution, as well as the disposal costs incurred by the entire community,” notes Angelo Batti from the Alta Marea Fishermen’s Cooperative. “Because the sea is our primary source of livelihood, we are the first who want to preserve its resources and balance.”
When fragments of EPS crates escape into the sea, even accidentally, they break down into microplastics that severely harm marine species and habitats, entering the food chain and risking reaching humans through seafood consumption. Furthermore, research conducted by the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences at the Università Politecnica delle Marche highlighted that, among the plastics analyzed, EPS absorbs and transports heavy metal contaminants more easily than other polymers, presenting additional potential risks to human health.
