Mass tourism has returned to the Italian island of Sardinia, but so, apparently, has theft of sand, pebbles and shells from its protected beaches, as much as six tonnes this year alone.
According to campaign group ‘Sardegna Rubata e Depredata’ (Sardinia Robbed and Plundered) most of the over 13,000 pounds of material left with foreign visitors collecting souvenirs. The beach resources were classed as protected in 2017, and theft can lead to fines of €500 to €3000. Theft of larger quantities carries prison time.
Results of inspection at the airport in July included numerous plastic bottles of sand, 743 sea pebbles and a rock weighing 1.2 kg.
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