On the shores of southern Italy, visitors often find narrow coastal roads, colourful villages and seaside dinners by the Mediterranean Sea. We see ourselves savouring dinner on a sea terrace in Naples, taking a deep breath of salty air, and twirling pasta on our forks while admiring the setting sun.

NAPLES — On a warm, moonlit night in May, Maurizio Simeone sat in an ambush at his desk about 10 kilometers (6 miles) south of Naples, Italy. The marine scientist and director of…

On the shores of southern Italy, visitors often find narrow coastal roads, colourful villages and seaside dinners by the Mediterranean Sea. We see ourselves savouring dinner on a…