The trade in local white sand, pebbles and shells has been illegal since 2017. Italian police said on Saturday that they had detained 41 people for stealing material from a beach weighing a total of 100 kilograms. Since the beginning of the year, police officers have collected 13,000 euros (330,500 crowns) in fines. Confiscated material, most often discovered by X-rays at airports, is returned to the beaches by police.
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The fine imposed may seem high, but the islanders have for many years fought for stricter measures to better protect the natural beauty of their island. On the local beaches, tourists filled bottles with white sand either as a souvenir, or in some cases sold it in online auctions.
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Poll
Do you take souvenirs from the sea in the form of collected shells, stones and sand?
A total of 1978 readers voted.
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