Caparozzolante – Wikipedia

Caparozzolante It is a term of the Venetian dialectal origin that identifies the fisher of clams collected in the Coastal lagoons of the Veneto. Such molluscs are called precisely Caparòssoli , which is a vanting of layer that is “Conchiglia” ^[first] , and must be distinguished from preservation ^[2] , which are the common clams ( Chamelea gallina O Venus chicken ), of minor dimensions and with less flashy colors and streaks.

Although it is a lawful and officially recognized activity, the term has taken on a negative value due to a circuit of protracted illegality that saw the involvement of Caparozzolanti in episodes of abusiveness: the discriminating elements between legal and illegal activities of the Caparozzolanti are consisting of the context and operating methods.

For example, the location of the places where the collection is practiced is fundamental: obviously always in the lagoon internal waters, which are the ideal habitat for the real clams and where there are areas dates regularly in management or under concession for their breeding. However, in the Venice lagoon there are many free areas rich in these appreciated and profitable molluscs, but in most cases these are water with a high pollution rate and therefore absolutely banned on any type of fishing, such as those in front of the industrial area of Fusina or the chemical-industrial pole of Marghera (where navigation is even prohibited in some sections, but where the less cold temperatures and hydrodynamism favor a faster growth of larger clams). ^[3]

Furthermore, when it is fraudulent in nature, the activity takes place at night, with lights off and on board the so -called “drifting”, low cost boats operating under the coast and therefore not suitable for hill navigation, non -member of powerful engines and even radar in order to escape the patrol boats of the carabinieri and the Guardia di Finanza. With their engines of over 200 HP, the drifting of the Caparozzolanti can also exceed speed of 45 knots, in spite of their prues anything but tapered, and therefore compete with the vehicles of the police. In addition, they are equipped with the “turbosoffantic” or “hydraulic draga”, that is, a small -power secondary marine engine (below 25 HP) which, connected to an aspiring pump, is used for actual fishing: dropped outside the Boat, his propeller sweeps the waters and his blade cuts the seabed by bringing out the Caparozzoli, while the small hydrovora absorbs everything then exploding only the mud and water through a sieve. This use causes very rapid wear of the equipment, whose use is prohibited in the lagoon and which is often made illegally or of stealth origin. ^[4]

The illegal activity of the Caparozzolanti produces the community a whole series of decidedly negative consequences. Starting with the damage to public health because, as mentioned, very often the clams so collected (and sold at competitive prices) are strongly polluted (inside them high percentages of mercury, arsenic, lead and chlorinated hydrocarbons have been found). ^[5] Then there are the damage caused to the environment because the illegal equipment used for the collection on the one hand have heavy in a heavy way the delicate ecosystem of the lagoon seabed, destroying the normal sedimentary texture, and on the other they cause the depletion of fish resources with theirs indiscriminate fishing. Finally, the tax damage deriving from illegal sale should be considered. ^[6]

The continuity of this illegal activity is periodically evidenced in the press by the resurgence of seizures of clams, arrests of fishermen of fraud and fines or closures for the restaurants caught in the act by the police. ^{[7] [8] [9]} .