The MOSE Machine: An anthropological approach to the building of a flood safeguard project in the Venetian Lagoon

Abstract

This article reconstructs and analyses the reactions and perceptions of fishers and inhabitants of the Venetian Lagoon regarding flood events, ecosystem fragility and the safeguard project named MOSE, which seems to be perceived by residents as a greater risk than floods. Throughout the complex development of the MOSE project, which has involved protracted legislative and technical phases, public opinion has been largely ignored, local knowledge neglected in favour of technical agendas and environmental impact has been largely overlooked. Fishers have begun to describe the Lagoon as a ‘sick’ and rapidly changing organism. These reports will be the starting point for investigating the fishers’ interpretations of the environmental changes they observe during their daily fishing trips. The cause of these changes is mostly attributed to the MOSE’S invasive anthropogenic intervention. The lack of ethical, affective and environmental considerations in the long history of the project has also led to opposition that has involved a conflict between local and technical knowledge.