The sea and the beaches have the ability to intoxicate all our senses: the sound of waves crashing on the shore, the feeling of wet sand between our toes, the taste of salt carried by the sea breeze, the endless blue stretching out before our eyes.
Why is that? Is it because being near the sea, lakes, or rivers makes us not only happier and calmer, but also emotionally healthier? According to marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols, who refers to this phenomenon as the “Blue Mind,” it is essentially as if our minds become more meditative when we are near, in, or under water. This is why many therapists view water sports as an effective therapy for treating stress, addictions, and more.
Being close to water stimulates creativity and reduces stress and anxiety; being in tune with the sea and its rhythms increases our overall sense of well-being and happiness.
We often tend to take for granted the beauty that surrounds us, but unfortunately that is not the case: our coastlines are threatened by pollution, even if they are still relatively well preserved. For this very reason, it is important to act now to protect what for us is both a treasure for our health and a valuable economic resource.
The role of beaches in the ecosystem
And we are not the only ones who benefit from spending time on beaches. Many marine animals depend on the beach ecosystem. Most of them cannot be seen with the naked eye, either because they are only a few millimeters in size or because they live buried in the sand, but they play an important role in filtering seawater and recycling nutrients within the beach ecosystem. Some organisms rely on the beach environment as a nursery area (for example, fish fry) or as nesting sites and colonies (such as turtles and birds).
For example, on the beaches of Elba Island, over the past two years we have been fortunate to witness the nesting and hatching of two turtle nests belonging to the species Caretta caretta. For this reason, volunteers from Legambiente Arcipelago Toscano patrol the beaches to prevent human activity from interfering with the egg-laying of these wonderful creatures.
Beaches can also play a role in mitigating the effects of climate change. Acting as a buffer, they can protect the coastline from the damaging effects of strong winds and severe storm surges. In particular, accumulations of Posidonia oceanica leaves (a seagrass that lives on the seabed near the coast and is highly sensitive to pollution) help protect beaches from heavy wave action.
All these benefits, of course, depend on our beaches being safe, clean, and healthy.
