Despite its size, the net was recovered without any entangled cetaceans or sea turtles—an encouraging sign that rapid intervention can prevent serious harm to marine life. During the operation, bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were observed in the area, underscoring both the richness and vulnerability of the Mediterranean ecosystem, increasingly threatened by overfishing and pollution.

Eight Years of Direct Action to Protect the Mediterranean

For eight consecutive years, Sea Shepherd Italy has worked alongside national authorities through Operation SISO to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Since its launch in 2018, the campaign has played a key role in reducing illegal fishing activity across the region by removing non-compliant gear and exposing destructive practices at sea.

In 2024 alone, nearly 15,000 volunteer hours helped remove:

• 144 illegal FADs (Fish Aggregating Devices)
• Over 14 kilometers of longlines
• 2,325 meters of illegal nets

These devices—often left unmonitored and in violation of regulations—pose a serious threat to marine biodiversity and the health of the Mediterranean ecosystem.

Operation SISO is named in memory of “Siso,” a young sperm whale found dead in the Aeolian Islands in 2017, his stomach filled with kilometers of fishing line—a tragic reminder of what’s at stake.

Scaling Up Monitoring and Enforcement with Italian Authorities

Operation SISO 8 builds on long-standing cooperation agreements with Italy’s maritime authorities. Sea Shepherd vessels are now patrolling a broader stretch of coastline—from Sicily and Calabria to Campania, Lazio, Tuscany, and Liguria.

Patrols target a range of illegal activities, including the use of drifting nets (so-called “walls of death”), octopus traps, and widespread deployment of unregulated FADs. These devices, made of long plastic lines anchored to the seafloor and connected to floating sheets or tarps, act as fish aggregators, enabling intensive and non-selective fishing and resulting in significant bycatch of non-target species. Often abandoned or lost at sea, FADs are also a major source of marine plastic pollution.

A Shared Mission to Defend Marine Life

Sea Shepherd Italy will remain at sea throughout 2025, thanks to the ongoing support of donors, partners, and volunteers. The organization will continue working with authorities to enforce fishing regulations, remove illegal gear, and document violations that threaten marine ecosystems.

Sea Shepherd extends sincere gratitude to the Italian Coast Guard and all institutions involved in this joint operation for their commitment to protecting our shared ocean.

Learn more about Operation SISO