Livorno mayor salvetti pushes for sea centrality in controversial initiative

In Italy, Livorno's Mayor Luca Salvetti has initiated a significant event focused on the sea, emphasizing economic growth and climate change responses. Scheduled for May 14 to 17, 2025, the first biennale will serve as a platform to address critical issues facing coastal areas. This biennale aims to foster a sustainable relationship between humans and the sea, underscoring the importance of listening to local communities, particularly fishermen’s cooperatives and regional enterprises. The backdrop to this initiative is the shifting political landscape regarding fishing quotas proposed by the European Commission. Salvetti highlighted fishing as an integral part of Tuscany's blue economy and expressed the need for stakeholders in the maritime sectors to have a voice in policymaking. The mayor aims to enhance communication channels affecting coastal policies to support local economies reliant on the sea. The biennale features various thematic areas such as research, art, climate science, and sports, all designed to engage the public and raise awareness of the sea's vital importance. The event intends to draw attention to the multifaceted impacts of climate change, including habitat degradation and the balance between land and sea environments. The festival's institutional brochure portrays this relationship as a meaningful and delicate frontier that necessitates protection and revival. A unique aspect of the initiative is the transformation of previously disused spaces into Creative Hangars, which will serve as venues for discussions and projects related to the blue economy. Upon presenting the concept in Brussels, Mayor Salvetti received positive feedback from members of the European Parliament, marking strong support for what is being regarded as an ambitious project geared towards restoring the vitality and relevance of the sea in the region's socio-economic fabric.