A nature reserve and resting area for flamingos, black-winged stilts and herons, facing the island of Tavolara, the Porto Taverna pond is in serious difficulty .
This morning, the edges of the lake witnessed a massive die-off of gasping fish, a phenomenon linked to the prolonged closure of the natural outlet to the sea, which impedes water exchange and oxygenation of the basin. Shiny, oily patches were also spotted on the water's surface, possibly caused by a hydrocarbon spill, which threatens to deal the final blow to this delicate ecosystem. This is according to the Porto Taverna Lagoon's spontaneous committee of citizens, residents, and tourists.
"The Porto Taverna lagoon holds extraordinary potential for sustainable tourism and could be a protected oasis for birdwatching and a site for low-impact guided excursions, yet the area appears to be being sacrificed for seasonal commercial pressure that risks permanently compromising its biodiversity," the Committee continues, calling for the intervention of environmental watchdogs to "conduct water sampling, restore the functionality of the channel connecting the lagoon to the sea, and initiate a plan to protect and enhance the lagoon."
