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Boat protesters in Venice take on damage from big ships

  • Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
    1/8

    Boat protesters in Venice take on damage from big ships

    Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
  • Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
    2/8

    Boat protesters in Venice take on damage from big ships

    Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
  • Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
    3/8

    Boat protesters in Venice take on damage from big ships

    Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
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  • Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
    4/8

    Boat protesters in Venice take on damage from big ships

    Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
  • Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
    5/8

    Boat protesters in Venice take on damage from big ships

    Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
  • Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
    6/8

    Boat protesters in Venice take on damage from big ships

    Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
  • Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

    Yahoo News is better in the app

    Keep up to speed at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
    7/8

    Boat protesters in Venice take on damage from big ships

    Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
  • Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
    8/8

    Boat protesters in Venice take on damage from big ships

    Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
Scores of boats take to the Saint Mark's Basin, as Venetians protest against the damage caused by big ships, in Venice
Reuters

VENICE, Italy (Reuters) - Hundreds of people in small rowing boats protested in front of Venice's St Mark's Square on Sunday to denounce what they say is a proliferation of motor boats that have crowded the waters of the lagoon city.

The protesters also took aim at the giant cruise ships that regularly sail close to Venice, a Unesco World Heritage site that has come under increasing strain from rising waters.

Critics say waves created by cruise ships and other large, motorised boats on the canal are eroding the foundations of the city, which regularly suffers from flooding.

The protesters arrived on a flotilla of small, traditional boats, where the rowers stand as they plough through the water.

"Stop the waves, stop the smog," said one banner flapping in the wind. "Shame on those making waves," read another in Venetian dialect. "Look out for the waves, they are drowning us," said a third.

Beloved around the world for its canals, historic architecture and art, Venice suffered a record string of floods in November, which left much of the city underwater and threatened the famed Saint Mark's Basilica.

The high tides were blamed on climate change, but protesters say local authorities could be doing much more to protect the fragile city by banning big boats.

A decision was taken in 2017 to shoo away the cruise liners but it has yet to be enacted as alternative mooring sites are being developed.

(Reporting by Crispian Balmer; Editing by Angus MacSwan)