LA VIA DELLA LAVANDA

The last 13th of August marked the celebration of Tartaday 2020, a national day of information and awareness dedicated to sea turtles, animated by a multitude of Rescue Centres participating in the European TartaLife project as well as by local organisations working towards the aim of safeguarding the Caretta caretta (Loggerhead) sea turtle, a protected species which is, alas, threatened by professional fishing activities, nautical traffic and water pollution. It was a triple celebration: firstly, because the number of nesting sites on Italian beaches reached a very significant quota (160 confirmed nesting sites as of today, compared to the hundred or so of 2019), secondly, because in many regions the Rescue Centres opened their doors to the public, offering educational activities around the world of sea turtles, and finally, because precisely the 13^th of August also marked the start of a collaboration between Acqua dell’Elba and Legambiente, who started promoting activities in support of sea turtles through their dedicated TARTALOVE campaign. Indeed, as part of its commitment to the cause, Acqua dell’Elba devolved to Legambiente’s Tartalove campaign 10% of the purchase price of every 500 ml “Isola d’Elba” Home fragrance diffuser sold up to the 31^st of December 2020 in its own flagship stores as well as online. Through these funds as well as other donations and symbolic turtle adoptions, the Tartalove campaign financed the sea turtle Rescue Centres, their nesting site surveillance activities and the cost of the medical care they provided to rescued animals subsequently released into the wild. Just as in the case of the #CONILMARENELCUORE (#WITHTHESEAINOURHEARTS) initiative, for this campaign the wooden snout of the Home fragrance diffusers was also customised with the Tartalove logo.

‘We are very grateful’ – declared Stefano Di Marco, manager of Legambiente’s Tartalove campaign – ‘of the support Acqua dell’Elba has lent to our initiative in favour of the sea turtles. Already since a few years, they have become regular visitors of the sea of Tuscany and of the Arcipelago. This year, we have already verified the presence of 4 nesting sites as well as other nesting attempts on the islands of Elba and Giglio. This is important data, confirming that the nesting area of Loggerhead turtles is extending northwards, probably also due to changes in climate.’

‘Our collaboration with Legambiente’, explained the President of Acqua dell’Elba, Fabio Murzi, ‘is an important initiative that we have welcomed and shared with great pleasure, because it is in line with the commitment and the passion we at Acqua dell’Elba devote to the safeguard and development of the sea, its environment and its beauty.’