Site selection and carrying capacity in Mediterranean ... - FAO Sipam

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Often, these two main agencies belong to different departments or ministries, which mean that they
must liaise with each other in the interest of speeding up the proceedings. This makes institutional
coordination and cooperation all the more necessary. For instance, in Spain a step forward has been
the recent integration of responsibility for management of the coasts (public domain) and the bodies
that represent Spanish marine aquaculture, through the creation of the Ministry of the Environment
and Rural and Marine Affairs. However, power to authorise aquaculture operations remains in the
hands of the Autonomous Communities (Regional Governments), which makes the system more
complex. This analysis of the current state of play shows that the main problems that tend to
characterise aquaculture in practically all countries relate to the lack of simplification of
administrative procedures, the numerous authorities involved and the resulting over-bureaucratisation
and lengthiness of licence granting procedures.
Generally, most common agencies involved in the license granting process are:
- Fisheries
- Merchant shipping or navigation
- Environment
- Physical planning and public Works
- Culture and heritage
- National defence
- Health and welfare is required
- Industry
- Local authorities.
The survey developed within the SHocMed project specifically addresses the main problems related
to the licensing procedure. The output underlines complex, lengthy processes, multiplicity of agencies
involved and lack of zones designated for aquaculture as major hurdles.
In Cyprus, problems are directly linked to the complicated and time-consuming procedures, which
make it difficult to react fast enough in an environment of rapid market changes. Additionally, there is
a long consultation process with different authorities, each one with its proper and divergent interest.
Many of the barriers to aquaculture development are related to the lack of official aquaculture zones.
Other countries such as Tunisia and Greece consider, as main problems, the numerous authorities that
are currently involved in the process of licensing. In a similar way, aquaculture promoters in Turkey
affirm that obtaining an aquaculture license is “too complex”.
In the case of Spain, competency to issue a license for aquaculture falls under regional governments
(as in Italy), with a variety of legal frameworks that also conflict with overarching policies at national
level (for instance, environmental and coastal policies). The aquaculture sector also claims that legal
uncertainty and complexity are directly translated to stagnation of aquaculture development.
Montenegro represents an example of a problem-solving approach. If the major ongoing problem
relates to the complex and long lasting procedures for issuing an aquaculture permit, they hope to
overcome this by procedures that will be implemented under a new law (the law on marine fishery
and mariculture which is in the making 25 ).
In Albania, there is a remarkable difference, as in many countries, in the ease of granting a license,
depending on whether the location of the aquaculture facilities is in a public or private area. In the
public zones, applicants should present complex documentation, and the administrative body will go
25 The Law on Marine Fishery and Mariculture is still in a procedure of acceptance by the national parliament.
According to this law, the Government will approve the mariculture development plan.
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