‘Super sustainable’: Venice delivers groceries by rowing boat

AS people have retreated inside during the coronavirus lockdown, orders for home deliveries of food have gone up. In Venice, groceries are now being delivered around the city by rowing boat, in collaboration with the group Row Venice

Venice’s canals have made headlines as their waters have stilled allowing them to turn clear. This is the result of decreased ‘moto ondoso,’ or wake pollution, caused by motor boats. Row Venice, a non-profit organisation of female athletes, are transporting fruit and vegetables by rowing boat to order to make deliveries ‘super sustainable.’ 

The volunteers are delivering about 100 orders a day with products all coming from the province of Venice. 

Although this current way of transporting goods is only possible because of the sudden lack of boat traffic on canals, it could inspire a move towards a radically new eco friendly Venice. With wake pollution from motor boats and cruise ships as well as pollution from industries on the nearby mainland, Venice’s economic model is in conflict with its fragile lagoon environment.

Elena Almansi, one of the Row Venice volunteers, comments, “this could be a good point to start thinking about a different way to get around on the water.” 

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Rebecca Ann Hughes

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