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

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when bad weather prevails (“zones de mouillage”). A similar situation is found in Morocco, where
guidelines are based on scientific advice, local representation by administrative bodies having the
necessary authority and stakeholders, include the local population. Currently, Morocco is involved in
a project related to a locally integrated plan for aquaculture (developed by the Institut National de
Recherche Haleutique in the area of Fnideq-Oued Laou).
Frequently the situation is akin to France, where the guidelines (inventaire de zones d’aptitude
aquacole du littoral français: un atlas numérique interactif; outil cartographique d’aide à la décision
pour l’implantation des fermes aquacoles sur le littoral corse) lack a regulatory enforcement and
more information-based.
Using a systematic approach, the Croatian Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development
has issued ’Guidelines to marine aquaculture planning, integration and monitoring in Croatia’ 33 .
Moreover, there are specific regulations defining physical, chemical and biological criteria for the
siting of fish, shellfish and, in particular, tuna farms.
In Turkey, the procedures and guidelines for aquaculture site selection are included in regulations, as
well as in the Communiqué on ‘the Closed Bay and Gulf Areas which are environmentally sensitive
areas where fish farms cannot be established’ 34 . Greece also regulates criteria for site selection in the
legal framework, namely the ministerial directive 11014/703/F104. Montenegro has a Spatial Plan
where zones suitable for aquaculture have been defined according to several criteria.
Finally, Albania and some Italian regions do not have guidelines for aquaculture site selection. In the
Italian case, experts have pointed out the relevance of procedures at the regional level, and have
advocated a compulsory approach to adopt ‘regional planning for aquaculture site selection’ to
achieve effective results. Otherwise, the risk is stagnation; for instance, in regions as Campania, there
have been discussions at the political level on regional zone destinations for aquaculture sites for more
than three years, but without so far any official document or regulation being produced.
Within this context, many national or regional governments have tried to reduce lengthy procedures
and improve efficiency by designing coastal zone planning for aquaculture. With planning as a tool
for managing aquaculture, the administration defines and sets up maritime and coastal zones
designated for aquaculture activities. In the last decade, some of these regional governments started to
define these ‘potential zones for aquaculture’ described by law 23/1985, as ‘those zones that for their
optimal potential for aquaculture require official protection’. The EC is concerned on space
limitations for aquaculture and strongly recommends the importance of technological developments
and spatial planning through this useful management tool.
In Spain, four regional governments have a planning aquaculture strategy for both coastal and cage
aquaculture; these are: Galicia, Canary Islands, Andalucía, and Cataluña. Galicia has established
polygons for mussel aquaculture in cages (decree 406/1996; regulation for marine cage culture in
Galician waters) and defines the aquaculture polygon as “the delimited area in a maritime zone for
cage location”. Inside the polygon, the legislation defines the ‘square’ or delimited area inside the
polygon for cage siting”. Decree 423/1993 includes rules for designing and managing these polygons.
According to the law 2/2007 on fisheries and aquaculture, the regional government of Murcia
establishes the polygons for cage aquaculture in designated maritime zones reserved for aquaculture
activities and overseen by different public administrative entities having responsibilities over these
areas.
33 Available online at www.ccrm.vims.edu/publications/pubs/aquaculture%20guidelines.pdf [consulted on August 09]
34 According to the ‘Communiqué’ these are sensitive areas considered as prohibited for sea farming in waters that are less
than 30 metres deep; closer than 0.6 sea miles to coastline; having sea currents less than 0.1 m/s; or in archeological and
natural heritage areas which have been identified or are yet to be identified by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
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