Sardinia's regional government has issued a decree for a three-year ban on sea urchin fishing, but it takes effect only if the European Commission approves compensation for professional fishers. No start date has been given.
The move follows the latest monitoring by the regional agency Agris, which found stocks in Sardinian waters in widespread decline. In some cases abundance is down by a third compared with the previous decade. The Agriculture department has set aside 1.14 million euros, to be paid for four months a year, January to April, until 2029.
For visitors, the practical point is this: if the ban goes ahead, sea urchins will disappear from Sardinian tables for three years. Until the Commission rules, the situation remains open.