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Climate Change and the European Water Dimension - Agri ...

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Figure IV.D.2: Traditional fishing system in Mar Menor (Murcia, Spain).<br />

(Photo courtesy of Dr. Martinez, Murcia University)<br />

In addition, coastal lagoons are well suited for human settlement with a strong<br />

commercial/recreational vocation, in particular connected to ports, <strong>and</strong> play a<br />

relevant role for economic, social <strong>and</strong> cultural development, see for instance <strong>the</strong><br />

Venice lagoon (Lasserre, 1979). Therefore lagoons are subjected to strong<br />

anthropogenic pressures, as <strong>the</strong>y receive freshwater inputs, rich in organic <strong>and</strong><br />

mineral nutrients derived from urban, agricultural <strong>and</strong>/or industrial effluents including<br />

pollutants <strong>and</strong> finally domestic sewage. In addition, port use <strong>and</strong> management,<br />

aquaculture <strong>and</strong> fishing are responsible of internal perturbations (pollution, sediment<br />

dredging, removal of indigenous species, changes in food web structure, etc.). Finally<br />

Mediterranean coastal lagoons are subjected to tourism pressures mainly during <strong>the</strong><br />

summer season, Figure IV.D.3. As far as <strong>the</strong> aquatic ecosystem is concerned, <strong>the</strong><br />

latter pressure is mainly responsible for an increase in freshwater dem<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />

delivery of wastewater that can outstretch water treatment plant capacity.<br />

Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, <strong>the</strong> aquatic activities related to <strong>the</strong> port <strong>and</strong> to tourism (e.g. ship) can<br />

increase <strong>the</strong> concentration of some pollutants (e.g. petrol, oil, organometallic<br />

compounds used as antifouling biocide such as organotin compounds - TPT, TBT<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir derivatives-, heavy metals <strong>and</strong> endocrine disruptors).<br />

Figure IV.D.3: Tourism is one of <strong>the</strong> anthropogenic pressures affecting <strong>the</strong> Mar Menor<br />

lagoon (Photo courtesy of Dr. Martinez, Murcia University).<br />

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