GROSSETO. TO Talamone is coming “The house of octopuses”. The aim is to throw 20 thousand terracotta amphorae into the sea, where molluscs that risk extinction can find shelter.
An experimental project that will be presented on Tuesday at 12 at the Talamone club by Giovanni Contardi who directs the La casa dei pesce association, by some Maremma mayors and by the actor and comedian Giovanni Stortimember of the trio TO ldo Giovanni and Giacomo. Storti embraced the “La casa dei octopi” project.
«By now – he explains Paolo Fanciulli, creator of the fish house – octopuses are in danger of extinction due to the many traps used to fish them. This is why we decided to do the same thing for octopuses that we are doing for fish and to combat illegal trawling. In the latter case we threw marble sculptures onto the seabed which became the home of the fish – adds Paolo the fisherman – For the octopuses we will put terracotta amphorae into the sea. Fishermen should throw 1250 traps (number established by regulations, ed.) but instead they throw thousands of them and thus condemn the octopus to extinction. We will try to counter all this by throwing away our amphorae which will become the home of the octopuses.”
The experimental initiative which will develop over several years – as explained on the fish house website – aims to offer octopuses new shelters, through the permanent installation on the seabed of artificial dens built with eco-sustainable materials, such as terracotta. The shelter designed for the project, therefore, consists of a terracotta amphora, stabilized by a heavy support. This will make the artifact firmly on the seabed, offering an excellent shelter for octopuses.
Remaining in the sea for years, the amphora will become covered with all the organisms typical of the seabed and, as well as a shelter, it can also become a spawning site. «Fighting the extinction of the octopus – adds Fanciulli – is also a way to combat the blue crab given that the octopus is the only antagonist this species of crustacean has».
A project that Paolo the fisherman and the fish house are carrying out with Giovanni Storti, one of the members of the Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo Trio, who for some years has had an Instagram channel in which he talks about plants and shows a great interest in environment. «Giovanni is very sensitive to these issues – concludes Fanciulli – and this is very important. A character like him can make the difference in our project. We have reached this point with fish in serious danger, octopuses in danger of extinction, squid practically extinct because there has never been a real policy to defend fishing. We are trying to make a difference.”
Large carved marble blocks are becoming works of art in an underwater museum and fish houses. Terracotta amphorae will save the octopuses.
The protection of the sea comes from within it, starting from the seabed where the fish house is creating a museum of the abyss. The association is made up of people passionate about the sea and nature, convinced of the importance of safeguarding and conserving the ecosystem for future generations. It has around 60 members who voluntarily contribute to the association’s goals according to their abilities and availability. It is also possible to donate 5 per thousand to the fish house.
