On Saturday, February 1st, a well-attended dissemination event took place in Pettorano sul Gizio, where trout, crayfish, and river environments were the undisputed stars, along with a discussion on the relationship and impact our species has on them.
Last Saturday, the conference room of the Cantelmo Castle in Pettorano sul Gizio transformed into a river environment, not only through the topics discussed but also due to the artistic and illustrative works that adorned it. “About trout and men” was a particularly engaging conference organized by Rewilding Apennines and Bruno D’Amicis, focusing on the often-overlooked subject of native Italian trout and the preservation of river habitats.
The event began with an introduction by Mario Cipollone, highlighting the interest and concrete commitment of Rewilding Apennines towards river conservation and restoration. Stefano D’Amico, a representative from the local administration, emphasized the need to address water issues from various perspectives, as it is central to everyone’s daily life. Bruno D’Amicis shared a captivating photographic journey he embarked on a few years ago into a world that was previously unfamiliar to him, revealing that “Daughters of the Current” is his upcoming editorial project.
Trout expert Stefano Esposito took the audience through a lengthy history of humans and trout that spans millennia, through discoveries and paleontological findings, and then addressed the diversity and plasticity of these extraordinary fish – as evidenced by findings in central Apennine rivers such as the Volturno and Biferno – that we are unfortunately compromising due to incorrect river management. Biologist Marco Carafa, referring to the LIFE Streams project, shared best practices aimed at improving the conservation of Mediterranean trout in the Maiella National Park.
From trout to crayfish, Julien Leboucher, field officer at Rewilding Apennines, discussed initiatives for repopulating native white-clawed crayfish in Borrello and Pettorano sul Gizio, thanks to two breeding centers. He also highlighted a unique initiative in the central Apennines so far to remove river barriers on the Giovenco to restore and free a stretch of river covering 11 kilometers. Artistic moments were woven into the event, demonstrating how art can support awareness and conservation initiatives for rivers and their inhabitants. Artist and illustrator Elisabetta Mitrovic officially presented her work to Rewilding Apennines, depicting a white-clawed crayfish in its natural habitat, which she began creating spontaneously during the inauguration of the crayfish breeding center in Pettorano sul Gizio last September.
The evening concluded with a special guest, Paul Vecsei, a Canadian ichthyologist and scientific illustrator who has been exploring Italian rivers for several years, guided by ichthyologists and biologists, drawn by the remarkable diversity of trout in the country. He clarified that his work is not art but illustration in service of science. Through his incredibly detailed drawings, he captures specific traits that help characterize the phenotypic expression of certain fish genotypes. This winter, he explored the waters of the Biferno in Molise, and next year, he is sure to present stunning and unique illustrations, which he typically offers for sale.
The audience remained engaged and attentive throughout the conference, reflecting the interest in the topics and the skill of the speakers. We were particularly pleased by the presence of sport fishing and fishery monitoring associations, to whom we extend our gratitude for their sensitivity and commitment to river conservation efforts. We also thank the Municipality of Pettorano sul Gizio, the Monte Genzana Alto Gizio Nature Reserve, and Coop Valleluna for their support and collaboration.
