🎣BRAVE Project and Fishing Valleys: Working Together for the Resilience of the Marano and Grado Lagoon
23/10/2026
On Friday, October 2nd, the Town Hall of Grado hosted an inspiring meeting with a very clear purpose: building a sustainable future for the historic fish basins (valli da pesca) of the Marano and Grado Lagoon. Organized by the Regional Service for Hunting and Fishery Resources, the event brought together public institutions, scientific researchers, and the local fish farmers who know these waters best.
Centuries-old fish farming (vallicoltura) is far more than a traditional livelihood; it is a vital ecological safeguard. Spanning 1,700 hectares (about 10% of the entire lagoon system) these basins are designated Natura 2000 protected areas. Through precise water-level management, fish farmers create crucial sanctuaries for priority bird species in Europe, including Pied Avocets, Black-winged Stilts, and Terns.
As Grado Councillor highlighted during the meeting, preserving biodiversity and maintaining lagoon hydraulics cannot rest solely on the shoulders of private individuals. Rising production costs and low profitability have led to the abandonment of several basins over the years, accelerating bank erosion and structural degradation. Strong, institutional public support is essential to back these guardians of the lagoon.
This is where science and the BRAVE Project step in.
Through an official agreement between the FVG Region and the University of Trieste (Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Geosciences - Coastal Group), researchers presented plans to update our understanding of these ecosystems. The project will evaluate active, disused, and abandoned basins alike.
Using state-of-the-art remote sensing, drone mapping, morpho-sediment analyses, and direct questionnaires with local managers, the FVG BRAVE team is building a high-precision ecological map.
These insights will feed directly into customized technical restoration files (schede tecniche di intervento) for each individual basin. Serving as a practical roadmap shared among authorities and landowners, these files will guide targeted bank repairs, restore hydraulic functionality, and boost sustainable local fish production.
By bringing together traditional stewardship, administrative support, and cutting-edge science, the BRAVE project is helping ensure the Marano and Grado Lagoon remains resilient for generations to come.
