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

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stakeholders in the capture fisheries are potentially in both harmony and competition with
mariculture, depending on whether one considers zone A or B (Y. Karakassis, pers. comm.).
Regulation of site selection and determination of carrying capacity is currently under reform in
Greece. Although as early as 1988, the need for national planning was recognized, unlike many other
Mediterranean countries, national level debates on aquaculture strategy are very new in Greece,
notwithstanding the fact that it is one of the largest producers in the region (FAO 1988; Marba et al.
2007). Basic data on the number of farms, their scale and production is unavailable and, aside from a
few academic research projects, no systematic monitoring of the environmental performance of fish
farms is carried out in Greece. A 2007 draft review of the Greek national aquaculture plan stressed the
need for improved information, monitoring capacity and stakeholder involvement. In practice, recent
policy directions favour providing incentives for fish farms to move to open water sites (Marbia et al.,
2007).
Turkey and Greece have similar characteristics in terms of the physical environment (warm,
oligotrophic waters, in coastal bays etc.), similar history (i.e. aquaculture development and types of
conflict), similar policy provisions in aquaculture (i.e. favouring moving offshore) but very different
social and economic and regulatory contexts. For example, Greece favours seasonal closures for its
local fisheries while Turkey has fewer restrictions (Y. Karakassis, pers. comm.); the two countries
share tendencies towards physical separation and zoning. Thus, the potential for transborder
spillovers can be quite high. Offshore provisions are limited because of the proximity to national
borders. Interestingly, the positive spillovers of increased fish landings accrue to both the Turkish and
Greek fishing communities.
SPAIN (MURCIA)
Murcia on the southern Mediterranean coast of Spain is one of the most important Spanish regions in
aquaculture production. Commercial operations began in the early 1980’s and in 2006 there were 16
companies registered producing sea bream (Sparus aurata), sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), bluefin
tuna (Thunnus thynnus) and meagre (Argyrosomus regius). The main stakeholders are capture
fisheries, aquaculture, environment/conservation, tourism, defence and municipal interests (Chapela-
Perez 2009). There is also an important recreational fishing fleet located on the Murcia coast and 285
commercial fishing boats in the ports of Águilas, Cartagena, Mazarrón and San Pedro del Pinatar. The
commercial fleet is composed of small scale fishing boats (70%), trawlers (12%), purse seiners (10%),
pelagic longliners (4%) and bottom longliners (1%). Landings are mainly pelagic species such as
round sardinella (Sardinella aurita), melva (Auxis spp), sardine (Sardina pilchardus), horse mackerel
(Trachurus trachurus) and mackerel (Scomber scombrus). One of the main aquaculture parks in San
Pedro del Pinatar has important interactions with the Marina Cabo de Palos-Islas Hormigas Marine
Reserve. This reserve was created in 1995 in order to protect local fishing resources and maintain
sustainable artisanal fisheries in the area. The Aquaculture Park of San Pedro del Pinatar and the
Marine Reserve are located respectively at the north and south of the most touristic area of the region
called Mar Menor.
The management approach favours zoning and physical separation. Polygonos are specially
designated areas for cage mariculture, that were established by the Ministry of Environment in
consultation with the administrations for defence, marine navigation, tourism, ports, local authorities
and coastal planning. There is also an Aquaculture Regional Strategic Plan (2007-2010) which
includes biological and production research. Once designated for mariculture, the licensing procedure
for individual farms uses a public tender system and selection is based on investors who meet clearly
defined requirements of the tender. Licenses are granted for a minimum of five to ten years, can be
renewed up to thirty years, and are transferable and include insurance provisions (Chapela-Perez,
2009). This means that there is a high degree of security of tenure for licensees.
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