The Bagnoli redevelopment project has raised concerns among administrators of the Gaiola Underwater Park Marine Protected Area, considered one of Naples' last coastal paradises. Criticism focuses on the plan, which calls for doubling the sewer system for discharging sewage and rainwater into the sea.

Concerns and objections about the project

Maurizio Simeone, director of the Marine Protected Area, expressed his disappointment with the government's decision, which would allow the doubling of sewage discharged into the sea during heavy rainfall. Simeone emphasized that "La Gaiola is the true biological lung of the Neapolitan coast," insisting on the need to protect this unique area. According to him, technical reports show an increase in discharge volumes, from 100 to 200 cubic meters per second.

Support from the scientific community

The project has also encountered resistance from the scientific and cultural community, which has come out in defense of the park. There are fears that the changes could increase sewage discharges, with harmful consequences for the 15 biological communities present in the area, including precious habitats such as Posidonia oceanica and coralligenous plants.

Towards an alternative solution

Simeone cites the Cuma water treatment plant, operating at minimum capacity, as a possible solution to avoid potential damage to the gaiolaCurrently, there is an open dialogue with the ministry to plan ways that will not alter the coastal environmental balance. The issue remains open, with the urgent need to consider environmental protection as a fundamental priority.