Mazara del Vallo: Nature Enthusiasts Explore the Beauty of Capo Feto Marsh

 Once again, a group of nature enthusiasts from Mazara del Vallo gathered last Sunday to explore the beauty of the Capo Feto Marsh, a wetland of great landscape, naturalistic, and tourist value located in the territory of Mazara del Vallo.

The excursion, organized by a group of citizens aware of the importance of this area, involved the participation of young students from the Boscarino Middle School and the Ruggiero D'Altavilla Industrial Institute. The visitors stopped in particular at the Gorga della Tonnara, also known as Gorga della Salinella, where they could observe the Italian Knights, elegant birds that have recently chosen this site for nesting.

In addition to the Italian Knights, a pair of Little Ringed Plovers was also spotted, a protected sandpiper that also breeds in the nearby Tonnarella lagoon. The presence of these two species testifies to the rich biodiversity of Capo Feto, a fragile and precious ecosystem that deserves to be protected.

However, the area is also threatened by some problems, including the impact of the Algeria-Italy gas pipeline, which crosses the marsh with an underground pipeline. Due to this intervention, at sea, right in front of the Gorga della Tonnara, a shoal has formed which, although artificial, has assumed significant ecological importance. In fact, Corsican Gulls, rare seabirds, have also been observed in this new habitat.

Unfortunately, the shoal is in a state of neglect, subject to frequentation by fishermen, even scuba divers, and other users. Despite the risk of catastrophic events, the municipal administrations of Mazara del Vallo have only requested the gas pipeline Concessionaire to finance the replenishment of the Tonnarella beach, hypothesizing a link between beach erosion and the formation of the shoal. A hypothesis that, as emerged from a technical table in the Port Authority, is difficult to prove, while the negative impacts of the gas pipeline on the Capo Feto ecosystems are evident.

The excursion also touched on other areas of the marsh, where other protected birds were observed, such as the Little Ringed Plover and the attractive Turnstone. The participants agreed to meet again at Capo Feto around mid-May, a period when it is possible to observe Hoplia attilioi, an endemic beetle of Capo Feto, unique in the world.

The visit to Capo Feto highlighted the beauty and fragility of this unique ecosystem. Concrete commitment is needed from institutions and citizens to protect the marsh and enhance its tourist and naturalistic potential. Only through synergistic action will it be possible to preserve this treasure for future generations.