Sea turtles are a living emblem of a suffering ocean. Every year, millions of tons of plastic pour into seas and rivers, turning the aquatic habitat into a dangerous maze for these creatures. More than half of all sea turtles have ingested plastic at least once in their lifetime (source: WWF). Bags that resemble jellyfish, abandoned nets that entangle them, microplastics that compromise their bodies — the sea is becoming a deadly trap.
Even in the Adriatic, the situation is extremely serious. The waters, contaminated by chemicals, heavy metals, and plastic broken down into fragments, threaten the entire marine ecosystem. Turtles, particularly the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), face a constant risk of exposure to these hazards. In recent days, it has not been uncommon to come across individuals in weakened condition, completely covered in barnacles — small crustaceans that attach themselves to their shells and can take over when the animal is too fragile to remove them.
The Adriatic Sea itself, bordering the Venice Lagoon, is no exception to this problem, representing one of the most at-risk ecosystems in Italy. Currents carry a continuous flow of various waste — bottles, ropes, polystyrene, and plastic fragments — through canals and salt marshes into the sea. Venice Lagoon Plastic Free has been committed for years to preventing and reducing the impacts of this crisis. During one of our recent monitoring operations along the coast, about 5 miles from the Alberoni shoreline, we found and rescued a young turtle in clear distress, with its shell and limbs completely covered in barnacles. We named her Serenity.
Serenity was transferred to the Netcet First Aid Centre for sea turtles in Alberoni, located at the Morosini Stay Centre, where she began her course of care and rehabilitation thanks to the work of the scientific staff of the G. Ligabue Natural History Museum of Venice. It is truly a small miracle that she survived. But it should not be about miracles — it should be the innate right of every creature to live and thrive in its natural environment. Her rescue tells a much bigger story: that of an ecosystem crying out for help.
We work every day to prevent damage to the marine ecosystem: we monitor and remove macroplastics from our beaches and coasts, raise awareness among tourists and residents, and develop and test new sustainable technologies to intercept river and marine waste as part of our collaborations within the European Union’s Mission Ocean projects. All of this is good, but it is not enough. A collective awareness is necessary. Reducing the production and consumption of single-use plastics, supporting those working in the field, and educating the next generation are crucial steps.
Serenity is just a little turtle, but her story holds great symbolic significance. She reminds us that safeguarding the sea is a mission for each of us. The lagoon and our seas can return to life — but only if we choose to undertake both individual and collective action that is consistent and proportionate to that goal.