Spain, Italy and Tunisia have held a seminar at the University of Genoa within the framework of the ECOSAFIMED project of the European ENPI Mediterranean Basin Programme, in which progress has been made in the exchange of scientific knowledge in the field of artisanal fishing in trawl-free areas. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA), through the Biodiversity Foundation, coordinates this cross-border initiative in which the Institute of Marine Sciences of the Spanish National Research Council (ICM-CSIC), the Oceanographic Centre of the Balearic Islands of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, the National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology of Tunisia and the University of Genoa are participating.
Since 28 April, scientists from the four participating entities have analysed, during the seminar that concluded today, various technical aspects of the project “Conservation of ecosystems and sustainable artisanal fisheries in the Mediterranean basin (ECOSAFIMED)”, which within the framework of the European ENPI Mediterranean Basin Programme aims to create scientific recommendations to guarantee the sustainability of the Mediterranean.
In the seminar, the experts have defined the study areas free of trawling in which the necessary surveys will be carried out to define the possible impacts of artisanal fishing on the benthic communities in which they fish on a regular basis. In the case of Spain, these areas are located in the Balearic Islands, in Italy, in Lazio and Sicily, while in Tunisia, the regions of Nabeul, Ariana and Jendouba (La Galite and the Banco de Esquequis) will be studied. In addition, the experts have worked on the definition of a protocol for sampling in each of the selected areas.
Scientists have also defined the metiers to be evaluated in each area, i.e. the combination of the use of a fishing gear to catch a species in a given area. In the 3 countries, the lobster and bottom longline mètier will be studied, and also in Tunisia the fish net.
Finally, the participants in the meeting have analysed the current state of the information related to the activities to be carried out within the framework of the project and have planned the sampling strategy of the campaigns that will be carried out with the use of underwater robotics (ROV).
Artisanal fishing and ecosystem conservation
With an endowment of 1.9 million euros, the ECOSAFIMED project promotes responsible fishing practices and communication between research and the artisanal fishing sector in order to contribute to the conservation of marine ecosystems. The final objective of the project is the development of management recommendations for artisanal fisheries studied in the Mediterranean, so that they are compatible with a good state of conservation of marine habitats.
Likewise, the project plans to detect areas of value to be proposed as Marine Protected Areas under European directives and/or the Barcelona Convention.
ECOSAFIMED is one of the 39 projects that were beneficiaries of the 1,095 submitted to the second call of the ENPI CBC MED Program 2007-2013.
The ENPI CBC MED program
The European ENPI Mediterranean Basin programme is a cross-border cooperation initiative that is part of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Policy instrument (EIPV-ENPI). The aim of the programme is to promote cooperation between the regions on both shores of the Mediterranean in order to face common challenges and to make the most of their endogenous potential.
A total of 14 countries are beneficiaries of the programme, representing 76 territories and nearly 110 million inhabitants: Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Palestinian Authority, Portugal, Spain, Syria and Tunisia.
The programme has a budget of 200 million, from the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Policy Instrument and the contribution to each project amounts to a maximum of 90% of the total cost.
The funded projects deal with various topics related to the promotion of socioeconomic and territorial development, through support for innovation, and research; sustainable development and energy efficiency throughout the Mediterranean basin; the improvement of the conditions and modalities of movement of people, goods and capital or the promotion of dialogue between cultures and governance.
Information on the ECOSAFIMED project and the ENPI CBC MED Programme can be found on the websites of ENPI CBC MED and the EuropeAid Development and Cooperation Office.
This publication has been produced with the financial support of the European Union within the framework of the ENPI CBC Mediterranean Basin Programme. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the Biodiversity Foundation and may not be considered under any circumstances to reflect the position of the European Union or the management structures of the Programme.
