Acronym ECOSAFIMED
Category
Fisheries
Title Towards Ecosystem conservation and Sustainable Artisanal Fisheries in the Mediterranean basin Programme Interreg IV
Instrument (FP6)
Contact Type (FP7)
Strand (Interreg)
Strand A
Theme (FP7)
Activity Area (FP6)
Regional Area (Interreg)
Action (COST)
NA
Specific Programme (FP7)
NA
Funding source European Coordinator David Díaz Viñolas Coordinator email NA
Coordinator institution
NA
Institutions involved
INSTM - National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies (Tunisia) ,
CSIC-ICM - Spanish National Research Council; Institute of Marine Sciences (Spain) ,
UNIGE - University of Genoa (Italy) ,
Start year 2013 End year 2015 Funding (€) € 1,915,883 Website https://ecosafimed.eu/ Summary It is a general assumption that benthic communities* are relatively well preserved in areas exploited mostly by artisanal fleets. The richness of these communities depends on the presence of so-called ecosystem engineer species (corals, sponges or sea grasses), which provide a three-dimensional habitat structure and significantly increase biodiversity and productivity creating breeding, feeding and refuge locations for an important number of species of commercial value. The contribution of benthic communities to the conservation of sustainable artisanal fisheries is essential because these communities have a role as ‘Essential Fish Habitats’. However, trawlfishing can damage benthic communities: since engineer species are usually long-living and slowgrowing, any disturbance can have far-reaching and long-lasting effects. Against this threat ECOSAFIMED project will assess the impact of artisanal fisheries on shelf marine areas with low trawling pressure. The aim is to provide a package of scientificbased recommendations for an ecosystembased management of artisanal fisheries whose application will combine conservation of benthic habitats with exploitation of artisanal fishing sector.
Specific objectives:
• To assess the impact of artisanal fishing on benthic communities
• To maintain a good environmental status of benthic communities in the Mediterranean Sea while ensuring artisanal fishing industry in areas preserved from trawling pressure
Keywords
Longline fishing;
Trammel nets;
Physical disturbance;
Gillnets;
Environmental impact;
Benthic communities;
Marine Region
54
Balearic Island (GSA 5)
48
South Tyrrhenian Sea (GSA 10)
53
Northern Spain (GSA 6)
3
Marine Region Map
