Preprint volume - SIBM

Pre-print Volume – Posters
Topic 3: INTEGRATED COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT
T. ROMEO, P. BATTAGLIA, S. ANCORA * , V. ESPOSITO, N. BIANCHI * , F. ANDALORO
ISPRA, High Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, STS Palermo, Laboratory of Milazzo,
Via dei Mille, 44 - 98057, Milazzo (ME), Italia.
teresa.romeo@isprambiente.it
*University of Siena, Department of Environmental Sciences, Via Mattioli, 4 - 53100 Siena, Italia.
DPSIR MODEL AS TOOL FOR AN INTEGRATED COASTAL
MANAGEMENT IN THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS
MODELLO DPSIR COME STRUMENTO PER UNA GESTIONE INTEGRATA
DELLA FASCIA COSTIERA NELLE ISOLE EOLIE
Abstract – The application of the DPSIR model (Driving Forces-Pressures-State-Impact-Response) to
Aeolian fishery chain and coastal areas permitted to well understanding troubles and strong points of this
fishery and provided suggestions to a better coastal zone management. Responses provided by the model
application could be useful tools to target the realization of objectives scheduled by the Council Regulation
(EC) No 1198/2006 on the European Fisheries Fund.
Key-words: Aeolian Islands, Mediterranean Sea, fishery, coastal zone management, DPSIR model.
Introduction - The Aeolian Islands are an archipelago located in the southern
Tyrrhenian Sea, declared a UNESCO Human Heritage site in 2001 thanks to their
ecological, biological and landscape relevance and also proposed as a Marine Protected
Area (Italian Law 979/82, Art. 31). Fishery is the most important economic activity,
after tourism. In the past, a large part of revenues for fishing boats were coming from
offshore driftnet fishery. Nevertheless, the ban of “spadara” driftnet targeting
swordfish (EC Regulation 1239/98, executive in the 2002) led to a greater polyvalence
and seasonality of fishing activities, exacerbating competition among fishermen in
coastal areas and contrast between fishermen and government Institutions (Battaglia et
al., 2010). Moreover, the increment of volcanic activity after a critical event in 2002,
determined an increase of hydrothermal emissions, representing a potential source of
natural pollution for the whole marine ecosystem. The application of the DPSIR model
(Driving Forces-Pressures-State-Impact-Response) to the Aeolian costal areas targets
the final objective to provide management suggestions, particularly in response of
troubles of fishery chain and of the potential contamination of fish resources.
Materials and methods – Within the DPSIR model several indicators related to the
area were examined. Human population density, the number of fishermen, the tourist
flux, socioeconomic data of fishery activities were considered as “driving forces”.
“Pressure” indicators were the characteristic of fleet, CPUEs for main gears and
species, aquaculture and other productive activities in the area. The water quality
(concentration of chlorophyll a) represented a “status” indicator, while the potential
harmful trace elements (PHE) (mercury Hg, cadmium Cd, lead Pb, arsenic As) were
assigned to the “impact” indicator category and were analyzed in the muscle of two
benthic fish species: Helicolenus dactylopterus and Serranus cabrilla.
Results – Overall 13,000 inhabitants were censed in the Aeolian Islands in 2007
(human density=112.84 inhabitants/km 2 ), 240 of which were fishermen. A percentage
of 92% of them was associated in 11 fishing cooperatives. Fleet census recorded 157
41 st S.I.B.M. CONGRESS Rapallo (GE), 7-11 June 2010
188