Naples – A sea increasingly under siege, amidst illegal concrete, unauthorized dumping, waste, and illegal fishing. This is the grim picture emerging from "Mare Monstrum 2025," Legambiente's new report, released on the eve of the fifteenth anniversary of the murder of Angelo Vassallo, the fisherman mayor of Pollica, killed in September 2010.
The report—based on data collected in 2024 by law enforcement and port authorities—places Campania at the top of the national rankings for crimes against the marine and coastal ecosystem: 4.208 confirmed crimes, a record 35% increase compared to 2023.
Despite the rise in crime, the effectiveness of enforcement is also growing: 4.532 people reported, 41 arrests, and 1.097 seizures (+20% compared to 2023). These numbers reflect growing investigative pressure, but are still insufficient to stem the criminal assault on the sea.
Emergencies in Campania
Illegal cement: the region leads the ranking with 1.840 confirmed crimes, equal to 17,8% of the national total. Illegal construction on state-owned maritime property, illegal quarries, and illegal occupations alone account for over €15 million in fines and seizures.
Polluted sea : irregular sewage discharges, illegal waste disposal, and poor purification resulted in 1.264 crimes, 15,9% of the national total. Campania leads the way here, with 1.341 people reported and 729 seizures.
Illegal fishing: 360 crimes and 598 administrative offenses. 375 people reported, with the region coming in second at the national level.
Violations of the Navigation and Recreational Boating Code: "Red Code" numbers. Crimes rose to 744, a 165% increase compared to 2023 (281), and 743 people were reported.
The words of Legambiente
"On the fifteenth anniversary of Angelo Vassallo's killing," said Mariateresa Imparato, regional president of Legambiente, "we once again remember the courage of those who fought speculation and illegality, bringing data and stories that reveal the growing siege of our coasts. We will not retreat in defense of the sea: we will continue with monitoring, awareness campaigns, and reporting. But we need stronger institutions, demolitions of illegal buildings, modern sewage treatment plants, increased controls on illegal fishing, and severe penalties."
In memory of Angelo Vassallo
Tomorrow, Legambiente will be present at the celebrations in memory of the fisherman mayor, organized by the Municipality of Pollica at the port of Acciaroli. During the event, the Angelo Vassallo Award will be presented, recognizing the most active local governments in environmental protection and the fight against illegal activities.
An anniversary that once again intertwines memory and current events: Vassallo's sacrifice and the numbers in the “Mare Monstrum” report testify to how the battlefront against criminal attacks on the sea is still open, and how urgent it remains to defend coasts and communities from speculation and degradation.
Chronicles of Campania
Ponticelli: An illegal landfill site a few meters from the Ospedale del Mare hospital.
Ponticelli, the neighborhood under siege by poisons. The open wound of illegal landfills in Campania continues to bleed. And one of the points...
I don't know why the numbers continue to grow, but solutions seem far away. Campania must address these serious issues, otherwise we won't have a better future for the environment.
It's strange how, after so many years of providing assistance, no improvement is visible. The sea around Naples is increasingly in danger, and people continue to ignore it. What's needed is concrete action, not just words.