​BARENA
ASSOCIATION
Mission
The Barena Association is dedicated to the long-term wellbeing of the Northern Venetian Lagoon, its unique wetland environment, fauna and flora, and indigenous culture and traditions. Through collaborative partnerships, we support innovative sustainability projects that protect vulnerable salt marshes from untimely erosion, wildlife from extinction and depopulation, while restoring balance to the threatened ecosystem and local community growth. We monitor native islands in the northern lagoon and develop projects that encourage non-tourism-oriented repopulation and remove big waste from the protected wetlands of the northern lagoon.
What is so important about the wetlands?
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Salt marshes not only host a rich biodiversity in terms of habitats, fauna and flora, but are among the ecosystems that sequester the most carbon per unit surface. If Venetian salt marshes erode, not only will their climate change mitigation potential be lost, but the carbon they store may partly return to the atmosphere and exacerbate climate change. Protecting these habitats is vital for climate change mitigation.
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The presence of wetlands also provides concrete benefits to humans known as ecosystem services: these areas capture carbon dioxide from the air, mitigate climate change, abate pollutants in the water, represent reservoirs of water to be used for irrigation or for storing the peak discharge of rivers (thus reducing flood risk), and support economic activities such as fishing, hunting and eco-tourism. ​
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Our logo: why the crab?
Fishing for the Mediterranean green crab, known in Venice as moeca, is a centuries-old tradition. Skilled moeca fishermen harvest soft crabs from their hard shells during the moulting process, which requires meticulous time and skill. This unique culinary tradition has been passed down through generations of fishermen, mainly on the islands of the Venetian lagoon. Most of the remaining moeca fishermen can be found between Burano, Chioggia and Giudecca.
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The crabs shed their hard shells twice a year, typically in spring and autumn, becoming soft and vulnerable before their new shells harden. The tradition is not just a means of livelihood but also a cultural practice that connects Venetians to their lagoon and its unique resources.
While still practiced, the number of moeca fishermen and the crabs themselves are declining due to factors like habitat destruction, pollution, climate change and the invasive predatory blue crabs.
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To Barena Association, the moeca represents the inextricable cultural and economic heritage of Buranello fishermen as custodians of the wetlands, currently in extreme peril. The moeca represents the beloved past, hope for the future and our dedication to preserving this land.
