Untitled - CNR

Marine research at CNRFigure 5: Divers and fishes near a shipwreck.around 2500 m 2 . A pontoon, also submersibleand of low profile, serves as supportingspace for catering; the electric appliances,the first aid station, the communicationscenter, a small “country store” forbait and for nautical bits and pieces arearranged in an autonomous servicing boat[31].A feasibility study suggested that the initiativecould be economically viable [23].Besides the induced advantages - environment,artisanal fishery, fish stocking[32], fishing-cum-tourism [33], attractionof tourists to the area, etc. -, the breakeven point in an hypothetic scenario offthe Roman coastline may be reached in theevent of 20 pleasure boats (each with 4 5customers using its services) docking dailyat the structure during the week days and80,100 boats during the week end, just in a2 month peak season [34]. Moreover, themodular design may permit to easily expandthe structure and to adapt the initiativeto other suitable sites.4 Future developmentsMatter of factly, the Mediterranean, a seahighly trafficked and theatre of many wars,contains many shipwrecks [2] lying oncoastal and shallow bottoms, of which alarge amount has the potential of becomingan integrated fishery reserve cum touristicattraction. It is envisageable that many ofthe censed shipwrecks will have a potentialfor multiple uses, with environmental,fisheries and touristic aims. Still, the dis-1929