The summer saw dozens more fines handed out for the offence of removing sand from Sardinia’s famous beaches. The island’s white sand is a huge draw for visitors, and the trade in Sardinian sand, shells and pebbles has been illegal since 2017. As such, removing natural assets from the island’s beaches is strictly forbidden and anyone found guilty of doing so could face a fine of up to €3,000 (around £2,500).
In June, authorities reported that 41 individuals had been reported for the theft of around 100kg of items from Sardinian beaches. In many cases those found guilty had wanted to bottle the sand to take it home as a souvenir, though others have removed sand for the purpose of selling it online. Where possible, the seized items have been returned to the areas from which they were taken.