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

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Currently, the lack of standards and guidelines is still evident. For example, in Cyprus the EIA is
mandatory by legislation, although currently there is no specific format; according to consulted
sources, a change in the legislation is due, which will provide guidelines of what should be included
in the EIA as well as the format that should be used.
Box 6 - Methodological guide for the elaboration of creation of authorization classified installations for
the environment protection (CIEP) in marine fish culture, France.
Sea fish farms with a production of more than 20 tons per year in France must obtain two operating licences: (i)
one for sea farming (AECM), with the aim of ensuring that the granted site and use of the maritime public
domain for exploitation will respect all restrictions of general interest; (ii) one for regulating facilities classified
for the protection of the environment (ICPE). Although the first one requires a relatively simple licence request
file, the second one demands a very complete file, which includes, beyond the notice of exploitation
information, a complete impact study, as well as a hazards study and a health and safety notice. In this context,
petitioners in Corsica (adjustment of status or new exploitation) are faced with the same difficulties, which
highlighted the need for a methodological guide adapted to each region's specific situation, assembling in
particular the necessary baseline data (legal, zootechnical, geographical, climatic, socio-economic, ecological...)
as well as recognised methods for evaluating the potential effects of the farm on the environment.
Development of this guide was supported by ADEC and supervised by a steering committee composed of
representatives from the administrations concerned, fish farmers and scientific bodies. The significant aspects
dealt with the effects of fish farming on Posidonia herbarium, a protected species very present in Corsica and
with coordinating the two AECM and ICPE procedures.
For each part of the ICPE file, the guide introduces the technical or scientific context and, depending upon the
case, the state of the art, sources of available data, acquisition and methods of acquiring measurements and of
assessing the potential effects, as well as practical editing recommendations.
Source: Ifremer; full text available at http://www.ifremer.fr/docelec/doc/2004/rapport-2188.pdf
Similarly, in Greece, the legislation on aquaculture requires an EIA before a licence is given, but the
content of EIA is relatively unclear. In June 2009, Greece approved a new regulation (common
ministerial decision by the Ministries of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture
Development & Food) which includes the requirements for EIA studies such as: description of the
production process and of the farming facilities, maps, etc. However, no models or other prediction
methods are mentioned.
There are other relevant issues that could have a bearing on implementation of the EIA, such as the
provision of tools to reduce its economic cost for aquaculture promoters. For instance, in Greece there
are several programs of funding for the EIA by the local authorities and also by the Greek Federation
of Fish Farmers.
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