Identification of areas with potential development of aquaculture based on the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC

• Aquaculture
• MSP Italy
• Sicily
• Tools4msp
  • MSP_Italy

In this guide, the marine areas free from constraints and incompatible uses and suitable for mariculture activities, along the coast of Sicily, have been identified. To this end, useful criteria have been defined to identify the aforementioned areas, referring to the planning that constrains and regulates the different stretches of sea on the basis of the Marine Coastal Bodies (ICs) identified in the Management Plan of the Hydrographic District of Sicily, pursuant to the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC.
In particular, the pressures insisting on each IC and the Ecological Status rating attributed to them were taken into consideration. 
In addition, existing information and data on the extent and condition of coralligenous habitats, maerl beds and Posidonia oceanica meadows acquired as part of the monitoring programmes for the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) were used. 
The methodological procedure used is that indicated in the technical guide for the establishment of AZAs (Allocated Zones for Aquaculture) drawn up by ISPRA for the MiPAAF Directorate General for Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture and published in December 2020.

The guide indicates the environmental, oceanographic and logistic parameters to be taken into consideration, the criteria to be used to contain the impact on the environment, on areas of high naturalistic relevance, on the landscape, to reduce conflicts on the coastal environment, to protect sensitive environments, the population. the hygienic and sanitary status of the product and other activities directly benefiting the sea.

The respect limits and distances reported in Table 1 are those indicated in the AZA technical guide, assessed on the basis of current legislation, bibliographic studies and expert opinion. Council Decree 103/GAB of 25/06/2021 approved the map of areas suitable for mariculture and the methodological guide for identifying areas suitable for mariculture - drawn up in accordance with the method indicated in phase 1 of the ISPRA technical guide.

The map constitutes a cognitive reference and does not represent the assignment of a priority, or exclusivity, of use for mariculture to the areas suitable for mariculture, which in any case refers the proponent of any plant or concession for different purposes to site-specific surveys and ex-ante and in-itinere monitoring, carried out according to the proposed activities, the environmental load, the sensitivity and the carrying capacity of the receiving water body.

https://www.sitr.regione.sicilia.it/wp-content/uploads/aza_A3_2_decreto.pdf