(English version)
Salento, a favorite holiday destination for Italians and many others, is also an area of extraordinary natural value—on land and in its crystal-clear waters. It is a world rich in biodiversity that in recent years has begun to be protected and promoted, despite the ambitions of those who would prefer more houses, hotels, and resorts. In Porto Cesareo, both a popular tourist spot and a historic fishing village, traditional fishing is increasingly being seen as compatible with environmental protection. For many, safeguarding marine flora and fauna means safeguarding the future of fishing itself.
Before exploring the area, Luca Eufemia, project manager for small scale fisheries at WWF Mediterranean, and Marianna Balfour, the organization’s regional head of communications, joined a panel on climate justice and the role of women in fisheries at the Festival of Mediterranean Journalists in Otranto. On the sidelines of the festival, MondoeMediterraneo took part in two field visits organized by WWF—one to the protected marine area of Porto Cesareo and another to Castro, a town that will form part of the future Otranto-Leuca-Tricase Coastal Park. The new protected area, expected to be officially recognized within 18 months, will cover 52 kilometers of coastline.
In Porto Cesareo, after exploring the marine reserve, we met a young fisherman—an increasingly rare figure, yet one that WWF Mediterranean sees as vital for the sector’s future.
Salvatore Peluso, 30, has been fishing since childhood. “I always liked being near my father, watching how he made the nets and everything involved in the fisherman’s trade. Over time, that passion turned into my profession. We’ve been fishermen for generations—my grandfather, my great-grandfather, all of them.”
But how has fishing changed?
“A lot. The catch is different, the tools are different. Today we use nets designed to let small fish grow, and boats are much more advanced than they used to be.”
Is there more awareness now about sustainability?
“Yes, but not enough. There are still distortions, and young fishermen like me need more support. One of our biggest problems is dolphins. When we cast our nets, they come and strip everything, tearing the nets. We’re left with no fish and broken gear. There’s nothing we can do about it.”
A day in his life begins at 3 a.m. “We set the nets, and at dawn we haul them in. Then we sort the catch and bring it to market.”
But there are fewer and fewer young people. “In Porto Cesareo, maybe ten or so. A decade ago, there were twice as many fishermen as today. Some fish species are harder to find now, and those we catch are often smaller than they used to be.”
Despite the challenges, Peluso says he cannot leave the sea. “I tried. I worked as a security guard for a few years. But the sea kept calling me back. I had to return to my roots.”
At the cooperative of fishermen in Porto Cesareo, accountant Simonetta Peluso sees the same trends. The cooperative has around 80 members, but numbers are falling. “Fishing has become complicated, especially for young people,” she explains. “Today, around forty boats sell their catch through the cooperative, but many have left. Young people aren’t willing to spend nights at sea in the cold. In the past, they grew up on boats, so they knew what it meant. Now, you put an 18-year-old on a boat, and he doesn’t know a thing.”
Women, however, are increasingly present. “We have Laura, a fisherwoman just as capable as any man, and Barbara, who works with her husband and also runs fishing-tourism.”
Still, the sector faces decline. “Most fishermen have retired, and the fleet is shrinking. Boats are dismantled or sold. Without support, there will be no future. Fishermen’s children now look to other careers, university, hoping for something better.”
For Eufemia, the discussion must also include gender justice. “It was wonderful to discuss the role of women in fisheries and to highlight that environmental and climate justice cannot exist without gender justice. Although only 4% of those employed at sea are women, across the entire value chain their presence reaches almost 30%. This reflects cultural and social barriers that limit their access to decision-making. It’s not about imposing equality, but about ensuring equal opportunities and recognizing women’s contributions. Making their role visible, collecting gender-disaggregated data, and including women in management is essential to strengthen resilience to climate change. A more inclusive sector means fairer, more sustainable fisheries with a long-term vision to support artisanal fishing for generations to come.”
From the Ionian Sea, WWF then brought us to the Adriatic coast. The future marine protected area will stretch as far as Leuca, complementing the existing Regional Park of Salento (www.parcootrantoleuca.it), which preserves a still partly wild coastline dotted with small towns. In Castro Marina, accompanied by park president Michele Tenore and deputy mayor Alberto Antonio Capraro, we continued discussions on sustainability while crossing a bay still filled with late-summer tourists.
Here too, Eufemia stressed the importance of the project: “The establishment of the Marine Protected Area within the Regional Natural Park Costa Otranto – Santa Maria di Leuca and Tricase represents a crucial step for protecting one of the Mediterranean’s most valuable biodiversity hotspots. It is an incredible opportunity to harmonize coastal development with a long-term vision that balances conservation with social, economic, and environmental sustainability, delivering tangible benefits to local communities and future generations.”
