What is happening in the Orbetello lagoon verges on the improbable. With the imminent opening of the season in the lagoon set for 1 October, and due to a series of skills rebounds and lack of clarification by the bodies in charge (First of all, the Ministry of the Environment), ATC Grosseto 7 sud has approved a resolution in self-defense which suspends hunting within the APG (Particular Management Area) of the Lagoon. The resolution in question provides as follows: "having acknowledged the communication of the Provincial Police of 17 September 2019 which highlighted differences in the boundaries of the APG Laguna di Orbetello, compared to the maps published on the official websites of the Ministry and the Region.
Considering that the discrepancies had already been reported by the Environment and Energy Directorate of the Tuscany region, in March 2019, without result, as communicated to us on September 19, accepting the recommendation of the Agriculture and Rural Development Directorate of the The Tuscan Regional Authority, of utmost prudence given this phase of uncertainty. In order to protect those who are found to be hunting in that area from possible reports and criminal seizures, as recalled in the note from the Provincial Police, it has resolved to suspend the exercise of hunting activities in the APG Lagune di Orbetello waiting for specific directives of the competent bodies and that whoever requests it has the refund of the amount corresponding to the annual registration fee for the area. "
In essence, the lack of clarity on the perimeter of a Reserve Established by the Ministry of Agriculture in 1980 to which a Regional Reserve was subsequently added, are producing total chaos on legal certainty for hundreds of hunters. Although the story has been dragging on for months and also taking into account the repeated requests made by the Tuscany Region to the competent Ministry so that it could officially provide certification on the real perimeter of the State Reserve, no response has been received to date.
From some checks and investigations carried out following this unacceptable situation, it would seem at the same time evident discrepancies and inconsistencies on the forbidden areas in question, detected by what is reported in the geoportal by comparing the affected parcels. On the basis of these first assessments, on which we reserve further details, the Confederation of Tuscan Hunters Assisted by the Federcaccia di Grosseto and the Regional ACMA (Association of Aquatic Migrant Hunters), it appeals to all competent bodies to exercise their competences and institutional prerogatives quickly and immediately to overcome and resolve this unacceptable situation. As far as we are concerned, we have already given a mandate, through the Federcaccia di Grosseto structure, to our legal references for any deeds of competence. in defense of the rights of all hunters and for the affirmation of legal certainty for those who have regularly paid the concession fees, the registration fee to the ATC and the APG.