Preprint volume - SIBM

Pre-print Volume – Oral presentations
Topic 3: INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT
collapse of pluviometric levels during summer. Prevailing and strongest winds are
those from I and IV quadrants. The superficial sea temperature has a regular seasonal
cyclical trend, typical of Sicilian coastal waters, with increasing temperatures from
June to September. The geomorphological and bionomical surveys revealed high
heterogeneity of coastal bottoms, for the co-occurrence of hard bottoms, soft (mainly
silt-clay) bottoms and wide zones colonised by Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile which
generally resulted in good state of health; benthic communities appeared qualitatively
and quantitatively poor, due to high sedimentation (Perzia et al., 2010). The main
human activities are small-scale fishery and tourism. The artisanal fleet (26 total active
vessels) resulted in high contraction, compared with that (66 vessels) recorded in 1992.
Trammel net was the most used gear during the whole study period; entangling net for
capture of European hake (Merluccius merluccius) and drifting longline for capture
swordfish (Xiphias gladius) are used seasonally; seine net for “bianchetto” (larvae of
clupeiforms) is also a seasonal gear, according to regional authorizations; all the other
gears (bottom longline, monofilament, purse seine) are very rarely utilized (Falautano
et al., 2008). The principal target species of Sciacca artisanal fishery resulted Palinurus
elephas, Diplodus spp, Sepia officinalis, M. merluccius (adult stage) and X. gladius.
The data analysis by GIS revealed that the fishing areas mainly exploited by artisanal
fishermen are displaced near the coast. The socio-demographic analysis showed an
encouraging percentage of fishermen’s sons working with their own fathers and willing
to go in for the paternal profession (Falautano et al., 2008). The analysis of cultural
heritage showed the disappearance of some fishing metiers and the permanence of
some cultural traditions linked to local fishery such as gastronomic traditions, folk
songs, poetry, legends and architectonical elements typical of fishing villages
(Falautano et al., 2008).
Identifying phase. The environmental limits are ascribable to the occurrence of urban
wastes, conspicuous coastal building and rubbish dispersed on the beaches and
deposited on coastal bottoms which cause ecological alteration and may conflict with
fishery activities. The factors limiting and impoverishing small-scale fishery in the
study area are referable to the sector structure and to the use of resources and space.
The artisanal vessels resulted old and poorly modernized, to the detriment of safety on
board and product quality. Their limited engine power obliges most fishermen to
operate only near the coast. Another structural limit is the inadequacy and paucity of
harbour infrastructures supporting artisanal fishery: there are no reserved mooring
areas for fishing vessels which are sparsely displaced in harbour areas at unhealthy
sanitary conditions, nor fishing gear storages. The use of resources is limited by the
well developed and uncontrolled recreational fishery, which operates in unfair
competition with the artisanal fishery; also industrial fishery competes with artisanal
fishery, illegally exploiting coastal resources, as evidenced by the traces of trawling
observed by side scan sonar (Perzia et al., 2010). Terrritorial limits are represented by
flourished nautical tourism which competes with artisanal fishery for spaces
exploitation at sea and in the harbour.
Proposal phase. The principal intervention activities to be actuated for overcoming the
identified limits are: to promote behaviours and actions aiming at safeguarding the
environment; to provide incentives for the modernization of artisanal vessels in order
to improve safety and life quality onboard and product quality, also favouring fishing
offshore; to improve harbour infrastructures supporting artisanal fishery; to regulate
41 st S.I.B.M. CONGRESS Rapallo (GE), 7-11 June 2010
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