What a fine white sand! What an incredibly clear water! What a view! Its beauty fills the beach La Pelosa in Stintino. Every summer, thousands of visitors to the northwestern Sardinia municipality are counted - too many, threatening the ecosystem of the bay and accelerating erosion.
Some time ago, the authorities have already banned smoking on the beach. Towels are no longer allowed without underlying straw mat so that not more sand is carried away - intentionally or unintentionally. Now the mayor of Stintino, Antonio Diana, announces that from next summer an entrance fee will be charged and the number of visitors will be limited to 1500 per day.
As reported, inter alia, the newspaper "Corriere Della Serra", this measure was initially intended as a test. "The money raised will help pay for monitoring and maintaining the beach," Diana said at a council meeting. Over the years, sea and wind would have worn away miles of sandy beaches and the thousands of visitors had their part in it, writes the newspaper. La Pelosa had shrunk to a thin strip of sand, in which more and more stones were visible.
The community has already set up wooden grates in front of the dunes to protect them. Rinsing off sandy feet before leaving the beach is a must, and using soaps and detergents is prohibited. Those who do not abide by the rules must expect a fine of up to 500 euros. There are plans to replace paved access roads with wooden walkways so that La Pelosa can no longer be reached by car.
Every year Sardinia complains about the loss of several tons of beach and flotsam. Even the Foreign Office has already warned German tourists on the Italian island to refrain from beach gathering. "Every year tourists take tons of sand, stones and shells as a souvenir from the island," said the authority in Berlin via Twitter. This is a pity for the environment and is forbidden by law on the Italian island.
In Italy penalties between 500 and 3000 euros can be charged. "So please leave the sand where it belongs", was the message in the appeal which the German Embassy in Rome also published in Italian. Also popular with sand-thieves is the Is Arutas beach in the west of the island. "Vietato rubare la sabbia" - sand steal prohibited - is there on signs.
