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

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This guide defines professional organizations and associations as organizational structures developed
by the private sector. Their role and commitments are explained as well as their importance in the site
selection and site management process. With reference to Mediterranean organizations, the scale
factor is considered together with observed trends due to globalization. Finally some examples are
given as well as guidelines on how private sector organizations can contribute to the sustainable
development of aquaculture.
Principle
Professional associations and sectoral organizations should be promoted in order to defend
the feasibility of private initiatives in the selection and management of aquacultures sites.
Guidelines
Aquaculture companies and professionals should organize themselves in order to defend
common interests. By associating they gain greater social presence and a greater ability to
reach top administrative and political levels, which otherwise would remain inaccessible for
most companies.
Professional associations should establish and implement codes of conduct and better
management practices for all their members. Implementing these initiatives, even if they are
voluntary, contributes to improving both productive practices and social acceptability.
Public authorities should support professional associations. Since the weak spot of
structures such as professional associations is usually their limited financial capacity,
administrative authorities should have public grants at their disposal.
Professional associations should be created at a local level, with the intention of joining
organizations at a higher level. The birth of a professional association at the local level
provides an immediate basis for the identification of common topics and problems. However,
there also exist common problems and challenges at higher territorial levels, such as the
Mediterranean region, that can only be dealt with effectively through higher ranking
organizations such as federations.
All producers should have the opportunity to join and participate in an association.
Membership of a professional association must be open to all producers, regardless of their
production volume, type of farming or location, and all members must have the right to
participate and vote.
M. Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
This guide highlights the need to take all the stakeholders involved in a particular coastal area into
consideration in order to ensure that the diverse frameworks and processes occurring in the zone are
properly implemented. In this sense, integrated coastal zone management can facilitate aquaculture
site selection and site management and its further sustainable development.
Principle
In the process of site selection and site management for aquaculture, Integrated Coastal
Zone Management (ICZM) represents a new form of governance that should be
implemented.
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