Potenzialità e criticità dell’Area Marina Protetta Isole Ciclopi

Abstract Potentialities and Criticalities of the Isole Ciclopi Marine Protected Area The paper analyses the Isole Ciclopi Marine Protected Area facing the hamlet of Aci Trezza within the municipality of Aci Castello in the Province of Catania, Italy. It aims to describe emerging potential and critical issues, posing the question of which actors are involved in the governance. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research revealed that the main problem is the non-implementation of the so-called command-and-control method. After establishing rules and prohibitions, resources for control and imposition of sanctions are lacking. A positive note is the increase in youth volunteer activities of cleaning the sea from plastics, showing a sound interest in the environmental education proposed by cultural and environmental associations.