This document, produced within the context of the Pharos4MPAs project, aims to explore how Marine Protected Areas could be affected by aquaculture, and provides a set of practical recommendations to avoid or minimise its environmental impacts.
QUESTIONS THIS PRACTICE MAY HELP ANSWER:
- How do aquaculture activities affect the MPAs?
- How can the impacts of aquaculture activities on the MPAs be prevented/avoided/reduced?
IMPLEMENTATION CONTEXT:
The report is developed within the context of the PHAROS4MPAs project. It explores the ways Mediterranean MPAs are affected by activities in the growing Blue Economy, and provides a set of practical recommendations to regional stakeholders on how to prevent or mnimise the environmental impacts of the key sectors.
ASPECTS / OBJECTIVES:
By bringing together different stakeholders and exploring the major issues experienced in the MPAs, PHAROS4MPAs´ goal is to provide best practices and to facilitate information exchange among the MPAs affected by similar pressures. The aim of the project is to produce practical recommendations to address potential negative interactions between aquaculture activities and the MPAs.
METHOD:
The report is developed taking into consideration different roles, interests and attitudes of the MPA managers, public authorities and representatives of aquaculture activities.
MAIN OUTPUTS / RESULTS:
Aquaculture represents a booming sector which requires space for continued growth. Experience has shown that aquaculture can be practiced within the MPAs. However, its environmental impacts and coexistence with the MPAs have to be taken into consideration. The document provides an overview of aquaculture activities in the Mediterranean area, as well as spatial interactions between these activities and MPAs. The document also provides a number of recommendations on how these impacts could be prevented or minimised, depending on the stakeholder concerned (i.e. public authorities, MPA mangers and aquaculture business sector).
TRANSFERABILITY:
While recommendations address the impacts of aquaculture on MPAs in the Mediterranean Sea, the model and methodology could potentially be applied to other regions.
Responsible Entity:
Pharos4MPAs project.
Funding Source:
Interreg MED Programme 2014-2020
Contact person:
Project coordinator:
Catherine Piante
WWF-France
6 Rue de Fabres 13001 Marseille
E-mail: cpiante
wwf.fr (cpiante[at]wwf[dot]fr)
Ph.: +33 4 96116946