Communications

Ecological, Social and Economical Aspects
of Coastal Aquaculture in the Mediterranean Region

By I. Katavic

(synthesis)

Rome, December 1985

Regional Activity Centre
Priority Action Programme
Mediterranean Action Plan - UNEP

Introduction:

Contrary to freshwater pond-culture, aquaculture in brackish and marine waters is of relatively recent origin in the Mediterrenean region. Pond culture of freshwater species like carp has been practised in some Mediterranean countries since medieval times. Today it can be considered technologically and economically established as well as horizontally and vertically integrated as part of the primary production sector.

The culture of aquatic organisms i.e. their growth under controlled conditions in marine and brackish water areas is, in most cases, neither established nor integrated in the sense indicated above. Traditional systems of extensive lagoon exploitation, which have existed for centuries in many parts of the Mediterranean littoral, co-exist without greater problems with sectors like capture fisheries and agriculture. Generally, they have neither degraded their resources base, i.e. the aquatic habitat, nor endangered their economic viability by saturating markets, clogging distribution channels or creating monopoly situations.

The question this paper is contemplating is, therefore: why have the considerable efforts of the last decades to raise the performance of the traditional patterns of lagoon exploitation through the introduction of more intensive aquaculture systems remained - with some exceptions - an external element within their geo-economical and social context? The hypothesis discussed here is that innovation of aquaculture systems in the coastal, lagoonal and estuarian areas of the region have almost always been apprehended and approached as a bio-technical task, without adequate consideration of environmental, macro-economic and socio-economic factors.

1. Environment and aquaculture in the Mediterranean

The coastal zone constitutes the geo-physical resource for mariculture (1) in the overall sense. Out of this large geographical area three types of environments are of principle interest to mariculture:

1. lagoons

2. estuaries

3. sheltered coastal zones

Lagoons and estuaries have been exploited with a certain level of management for a long time in the region. Whether these traditional systems of resource management are subsumed under small scale fisheries or labeled as rudimentary forms of aquaculture is maybe a question of semantics. Their exploitation pattern has, however, evoked territorial use rights claimed by the respective user groups, limiting “open access” which is generally assumed in capture fisheries. The have also, as in the case of the “vallicoltura” in Italy or the “howash” system in Egypt, been the base of indigenous development of veritable aquaculture. Sheltered coastal zones have, apart from some traditional shellfish culture operations, remained the domain of capture fisheries.

(1) We will use the term “mariculture” in the wider sense here, including aquaculture in both marine and brackish water

In several ways traditional exploitation systems of lagoon, estuaries and sheltered coastal zones have overlapped with the fishery sector:

economically - as far using the same resources and the same waters,

socially-their protagonist often converge with the small scale fishing population

technologically - as using the same or similar gear as the latter -, and often even

legally - as falling within the same legal framework as small scale fisheries

As with the small scale or artisanal fishing populations there often exists socio-economic interaction between the fish and shell fish producers of lagoon and estuaries and the agricultural population e.g. in some areas the same families fish and cultivate land. In France, for example, wine growers have progressively engaged in lagoon shellfish culture in the last decades.

Interaction and sometimes competition with respect to the utilization of coastal resources and the different socio-economic categories of people involved is one of the central aspects of the environmental economical and social context of aquaculture.

1.1. Protection of the environment

Specially in the northern part of the Mediterranean the coastal zones are acutely endangered, especially regarding water quality. In many areas water pollution impedes the development of coastal aquaculture, Principal agent of water pollution are:

1. agriculture

2. urbanization and tourism

3. industry

The variety of pollutants from these sectors is to complex to be discussed in detail here. Wether agricultural run-off, excess fertilizer and pesticides, sewage and household wastes or toxic agents and affluents, almost all are a detriment to fisheries and aquaculture. The littoral in general and lagoons and estaries in particular are most vulnerable. As these areas are the spawning and nursing ground for many fish and shellfish species, the progressive pollution registered during the last decades has had a significant negative impact on recruitment.

Mariculture, which even in its more extensive forms operates with a higher density of fish and shellfish than it is found under natural conditions, is proportionally more vulnerable. Limited emmissions of sewage and non-toxic agricultural run off may increase the primary production of phyto and zoo-plancton and increase the intensive lagoon production of, for example, mullets. However, the more intensive the adopted culture systems becomes, the smaller is the margin between for example, increasing natural productivity and depleting dissolved oxygen levels to the point where the fish die.

Shellfish, being filter feeders, are particulary endangered. In many areas of northern Italy and Spain, for example, shellfish production had to be abondanded because of water contamination.

Most vulnerable are super-intensive systems like hatcheries Where water is only the medium of the cultured organisms. Here even minimum degrees of contamination can have disastreous effects.

In the Mediterranean the major problem with respect to environmental degradation is that aquaculture plays in the overall context of most national economies, still a rather insignificant role. Demand regarding the protection of the aquatic habitat are, when based only on the requirements of aquaculture, easily overruled by considerations which safeguard the interests of economically dominant sectors like agriculture and industry. Only if alligned with other interest groups which depend on an intact environment, e.g. fishery and tourism can such demand yield a significant result.

1.2. Competition for coastal resource use

Especially along the northern fringe of the Mediterranean the problem of competition for the coastal resources has taken important dimensions. The main competiters are fishers, tourism human settlements and industries. Coastal aquaculture plays, so far, only a minor role.

Apart from the pollution problems, discussed above, the following are the principle conflicts observed:

1. conflicts within the fishery sector i.e. small scale inshore fishery versus semi-industrial and industrial fleets, mainly because of continous intrusion of the latter in inshore waters reserved for the former.

2. conflicts between tourism and fisheries: while the dynamic development of tourism has definitely contributed to the economic validity of the fisheries by creating demand and raising fish prices, especially the spatial requirements of tourism has, at least in some areas, marginalized the coastal fisheries.

3. spatial competition for shore areas between all sectors, i.e. fisheries, tourism, human settlements, agriculture and industry.

The position of coastal aquaculture has, in this context, several facets:

1. Aquaculture and fisheries in general, competition and conflicts have not yet reached critical dimensions. They exist, however, with respect to fry and fingerling use in those areas where mariculture production has reached, its take-off phase. Spatial conflicts, as regarding breeding and nursing grounds and/or inshore fishing grounds earmarked for mariculture development, are relevant in some countries. Competition for markets have not yet become important, but may become problematical in the future. A real competition between fisheries and aquaculture exists for public funds, either to strengthen research and development infrastructure or as subsidies.

2. Aquaculture and land-based sectors of the eceonomy: apart from pollution problems there are few other existing conflicts. Assuming a dynamic growth of coastal aquaculture spatial conflicts may arise in the future.

3. Aquaculture and tourism: There are few areas where tourism is actually in spatial conflict with aquaculture. Even if some coastal zones are safeguarded as future aquaculture sites, positive side effects could accrue to the tourist industry, e.g. in terns of environmental protection. Both tourism and urban development are important to aquaculture development as they create demand for the fish and shellfih produced.

Much more could be said regarding existing and potential competition for coastal resource use. The final conclusion will, however, allways underlines the vital role of integrated spatial and temporal planning, as the only viable mechanism to assure equitable resource distribution. The aquaculture sector can, ultimately, only thrive as an integral part of the complex social and economic system of coastal resource use in a given area or nation.

1.3. Protection of the environment for and from aquaculture

As a final remark we believe it important to stress that coastal aquaculture depends on an intact environment on the one side, but can also endanger the same environment on the other side. Even extensive systems. of lagoon exploitation can reduce recruitment rates by non-selective harvesting and impede water exchange with the open sea if fish traps are not allowing a suficient rate of water flow. Intensive systems can, through unused feed residues, contaminate the waters and spread diseases, if no strict sanitary control measures are taken. In order to establish a legal framework which would protect the environment from hazards created by aquaculture - and thus protecting an aquaculture potential from aquaculture itself - it could be useful to analyse existing jurisdiction in freshwater aquaculture. Environmental protection efforts of coastal resources can possibly learn from these existing schemes and avoid the repetition of errors. Important areas to be regulated include the followings:

1. type of construction to be allowed,

2. areas to be used,

3. intensity of the operation,

4. sanitary standards, and

5. professional standards of the operators

2. Macro-economic determinants of aquaculture development

For a national economy and the decision maker aquaculture is one of the many possibilities of making use of physical, human and financial resources. As part of the primary sector, i.e. the sector of the economy which provides food, raw materials etc., aquaculture competes with the other subsectors for the use of theses limited resources.

Whereas in a centrally planned economy this choice is, ideally, decided upon according to centrally set priorities, in a market economy different interest groups are in competition. However, even in the most liberal political systems, the public authorities exercise influence through legal measures, tax policies and subsidies. Whether centrally planned or indirectly steered and influenced, the choice on how to use the existing resources is made considering how the national economy may benefit best (2).

(2) It goes without saying that influence is not only imposed from top to bottom, i.e. from the government to the different sectors of the economy and their protagonists, but also vice versa from interest groups on the production level to decision makers in public capacities

The use of coastal environment, i.e. the physical resource for mariculture, is competed for by interest groups pertaining to industry, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, human settlement and conservationists. In what way mariculture can offer an ecological viable alternatives or create potential hazards has been discussed above. In the macro-economic perspective aquaculture has an impact on two different levels :

1. the production levels : producing fish shellfish for human consumption, aquaculture yields, potentially, three categories of macro-economic benefits (a) it supplies food for domestic consumption, thereby improving the food-balance : (b) it may substitute imports and save foreign exchange, if the country is a net importer of fish and fishery products and (c) it may provide foreign exchange earning, if the produce is exported.

2. the producer level : creating revenues aquaculture contributes to the overall performance of the economy; creating individual incomes it generates demand; i.e. it strengthened the interest market.

As in every concrete context, also in the Mediterranean region these idealtypical-formula imply a number of “ifs”. If there is a lack of proteins in the country and if the consumer groups in need of protein can afford the fish, aquaculture can contribute to the food balance (as it is the case in Egypt ). if aquaculture produces the species which, according to consumer preference, are imported, and if the produce is marketed domestically, foreign exchange foreign exchange can be saved (as, potentially in Greece). If there is a export market for the species produced and if the revenues are in foreign exchange and repatriated aquaculture can be of benefit to the balance of payments.

A similar set of condition applies to potential benefits on the level of the producer. Aquaculture produces values which accrue to the Gross National Product; if, however, the costs to the national economy to achieve these values are, in the long term, disproportional to the accrued benefit, the economy looses. Income and employment opportunities created through aquaculture can strengthen the internal market, i.e. the demand for other products, if their quality (number of jobs) and quality (income levels) are significant and is some balance with economic coasts.

Again, it has to be underlined that in the Mediterranean coastal aquaculture is a relatively new technology; efforts to innovate new systems cannot be measured with the same yardstick as efforts to improve long established systems. Innovation means, in this sense, investment with the perspective of long term returns. Respective success depends, however, on adequate and realistic planning.

It is appropiate, for example, that a new technology, which is still in its experimental stage, is for research and development infrastructure, publicity financed. It is hazardous, on the other hand, to finance the same unproven technology on the production level, not only because of the probable immediate losses but also because failure in the early stages of technological innovation may discredit a potentially valuable system which, given more time to mature, may show a positive economic performance.

3. Socio-economic considerations

The macro-economical background of aquaculture development is set by the needs and priorities of the national economy and the relative (with respect to the different user categories) availibility and nature of the physical resource. The decision of the individual producer to invest his capital and labour in coastal aquaculture is directly influenced by this “investment climate”.

However, whereas conventional production economics assumes this decision to be taken purely on the basis of the expected financial returns, the socio-economist takes a more holistic view on how the individual and groups of individuals act and interact on the production level. while also considering financial cost benefits on the farm level, the socio-economist includes macro-economic and ecological determinants. Furthermore, he tries to avoid the reductionist view of many economists who understand the producer as a “homo economicus”, i.e. an individual who acts merely with the aim of maximizing his revenues. Specially in primary production, tradition, values and social interaction are important determinants to be added to the set of economic and ecological variables which influence the path of development.

In traditional systems of lagoon exploitation we often find systems intended to maximise socio-economic benefits, i.e. to provide adequate income for a maximum number of families. These traditional ways of resource sharing, which we also find to some extend in small scale fisheries become unstable if the resource is not sufficient to supply for the needs of the local population groups.

In many lagoons external effects as pollution or increased fishing pressure as a result of underemployment in land-based sectors of the economy has reduced yields and has created competition and conflict. Better resource management and a progressive change to low-or medium - intensity aquaculture could increase yields and comply with the needs of the user groups. Slow, progressive technological change could be tuned to the cognitive capacities of these groups and their ability to accumulate, step by step the necessary investment capital.

In the Mediterranean region this “appropiate” technological change has not taken place, (with the few exception as in Italy where it was, however, often accompanied by privatization and concentration of the means of production in fewer hands). The reasons for this are manifold :

1. Traditional lagoon exploitation, the same as small scale fisheries, was more often than not ignored or bypassed by the dynamic development of sectors like agro-industry, industry, tourism. It remained an unknown entity until it was rediscovered as the locality for aquaculture.

2. Modern systems of marine and brackish water culture, although inspired by traditional shellfish culture in Europe or indigenous fin-fish culture in Asia were, and are, largely a product of laboratries, lecture halls and academic institutes.

3. Being under the pressure to demonstrate economic viability and to provide eventual benefits to the economies which had financed the experiments the aquaculture "lobby " had to find a habitat for the new technology.

4. Being almost entirely biologist and technologist, the aquaculturalist established selection criteria which were predominantly bio-chemical, topographic and hydromorphological. Apart from the fact that many of the technologies were still in an experimental stage economic considerations as how to provide production inputs and market related cast-benefit projection were, at least initially ignored.

5. In the absence of adequate legal frameworks and medium and long-term development plans for the emerging sector in most-countries around the Mediterranean the mostly bio-technical level of decision making lead to uncoordinated establishment of production units which often ignore their social and economic context.

6. often, through overoptimistically subsidized finance opportunities new ventures attracted investors on a scale which sometimes did not correspond with neither the financial nor the economic feasibility which could realistically be expected.

Perhaps the most critical feature of the emerging marine and brackishwater culture schemes is the general emphasis on intensive systems, which further aggravates most of the problematic issues listed above. Dependency on ongoing research (as many of the bio-technical problems are not solved), technical assistance (which often has to be provided externally), expensive production inputs (as composite feed which most countries have to import) and foreign markets (which are not sufficiently known and can not been controlled by the producers) make intensive systems vary costly, especially for developing countries. Because of their cost structure both in terms of investment, fixed and variable costs, they have to concentrate on high value species for which the domestic purchasing power, at least in the southern Mediterranean countries, is not sufficient. The negligible profit margin between cost price and farm gate price. and the absence of domestic markets which could act as a buffer make these countries, marketing-wise, totally vulnerable.

Socio-economically, intensive systems provide, in relation to the investment they represent, a minimum of benefits in terms of employed opportunities, i.e. positive effects on equitable income distribution. It could be said that in this respect, the socio-economic appropriateness of coastal aquaculture decreases as the intensity of the respective system increases. This also applies to the transferibility of technology to small and medium scale producers.

From the above it appears obvious that extensive and semi-intensive systems are, macro-economically and socio-economically more adequate. wether they prove equally preferable with respect to competition for the use of coastal resources between the different sectors, e.g. tourism, industry, human settlements etc., will largely depend on regional and international planning.

4. planning for coastal aquaculture development

Since the development sequence outlined above has created a dual structure of coastal aquaculture in the region, concerted and dynamic efforts will be necessary to increase the homogeneity of the sector. At present there is an organically growing subsector which progressively moves from extensive to semi-intensive management , in some instances combining both with intensive elements, like artificial fry production. This process, already advanced as in the case of Italy, is however only in its infancy in most other countries. On the other hand there are several intensive schemes scattered over the region, implemented mostly on an ad hoc basis and largely as a direct result of indirect or direct public or semi-public subsidies. In some instances the latter represent an obstacle rather than an impetus to the sector. because of a certain affinity to sophisticated technology on the part of governmental and financing agencies, the latter are given preference to the detriment of the former.

At this moment regional, national and local planning efforts will have to focus on the following priorities :

1. a re-orientation of the development strategy towards improvement of existing extensive exploitation pattern and a step-by-step, gradual change to semi-intensive system which have to be in line with the absorption capacity of the local target groups.

2. an adjustment on the part of government and financing agencies, of the approach to promote intensive systems to the effect that either they serve as pilot/demonstration units to pave the way for future development (in this case public support would be justified) or they prove their economic viability as private enterprises in the market place and within the framework provided for other ventures operating in the private sector.

3. the establishment of social and economic priorities designed to maximize medium and long term benefits for the community, region or nation, in line with overall and parallel temporal and spatial development plans in order to make coastal aquaculture and integral part of local production structure and the national economy.

4. the improvement of vertical integration of aquaculture i.e. to define, implement and enforce concerted action to ensure rational and sustainable use of the coastal resources according to social and economic priorities of the communities and the national economy, thus providing a long term strategy of resource sharing between the various sectors operating in the coastal environment, and

5. to provide an information system, including medium and long term demand forcasts for aquaculture products for the producers

Within the limitation of this paper it is not possible to go beyond suggesting measures as the above, e.g. by outlining planning methodologies. As a, maybe, unorthodox postulate we would however encourage an approach to planning which may counter-balance the philosophy so far employed. Until recently - and in a exaggerated sense - a given technology, after being developed on laboratory scale, has been transferred to a bio-technically suitable environmental substratum under the assumption that markets could easily be found. In the Mediterranean context it could, however, be advantages to look at the environment, i.e. the physical resource and its economical, social and cultural implications, on the one hand and at the internal and external markets, i.e. consumer preferences demand and price structures, dynamics and trends etc. on the other hand and then decide upon which technology would be most appropriate. Appropiate technology in this context would imply sustainable and participatory use of the resource as well as long term maximization of social and economic benefits.

4. Regional assistance to aquaculture development

The role of international agencies is of particular importance with respects to the tasks indicated above. The collaboration of UNEP (through PAO/RAC) and the UN (through MEDRAP) has already yielded good results, and will continue.

MEDRAP will organise, during 1986, a workshop with the aim of establishing a planning metodology, as mentioned above. The Project will further tackle the task of providing realistic market information. A possible further contribution to a more holistic approach to mariculture development would be constituted by an information medium, as a periodical newsletter, where different countries, agencies and individum contributors could communicate their experiences. In this and other measures intended to change the technocratic path of mariculture development UNEP would have the instrumental role of safeguarding the environment, i.e. the resource without which no primary production is possible.

MEDRAP, according to its terms of reference, will continue to promote aquaculture in the region with a new emphasis on marketing and socio-economic aspects.

Both programmes should, in the sense indicated in this paper, advocate the importance of the social and macro-economic dimensions in their respective fields of work, in collaboration with each other as well as with other international agencies (as the EEC). The overall objective would be a coordinated, integrated and holistic approach to coastal aquaculture development in the Mediterranean.

5. References :

1. Proceedings of : Aspects Sociaux-Economique du Developpement de L'Aquaculture dans les Pays Mediterraneens, Jerba - Tunesie, 14–24 November 1985, unpublished.

2. Schmidt, U.W., conflicts and Problems of Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Mediterranean: Utilisation of coastal Resources in France, Greece, Italy, and Spain, Rome 1984, unpublished

3. Brunel, G. et al, Aquaculture and Coastal Planning in the Mediterranean - Physical and Environmental Criteria, Tunis, Rome Split, October 1985, unpublished.

Information on Hitherto PAP Activities Relative to
Environmental Aspects of Aquaculture in Mediterranean region

By A. Pavasovic

UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

MEDRAP II Seminar on the Constitution of
the Network on Environmental Aspects of
Aquaculture in the Mediterranean Region

Athens, June 14–15, 1993

Priority Actions Programme
Regional Activity Centre
Split, May 1993

1. The Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention, on which the Mediterranean Action Plan is based, defined already in 1976 six Priority fields to be covered by PAP activities. One of those fields regarded environmental aspects of aquaculture in the region.

On that basis, the implementation of PAP was launched in 1983, and in 1984 the priority action on aquaculture was inaugurated, entitled “PAP/MEDRAP/FAO Cooperation on Environmentally Sound Management of Mediterranean Aquaculture”.

2. The objectives of this activity were : (a) to contribute to the identification and protection of sites suitable for aquaculture activities in Mediterranean coastal zones : (c) to promote the PAP/MEDRAP/FAO cooperation on the subject; (c) to develop, promote and create conditions for the implementation of a Mediterranean Cooperative project on environmentally sound management of Mediterranean aquaculture.

3. In the period 1984–1989, the following was completed :

1984: Cooperation was establishment with FAO, Fisheries Department, and the then on-going UNDP project MEDRAP (Mediterranean Development and Research Aquaculture Project located in Tunisia): programme of joint activities was defined in the part regarding the environmental approach to aquaculture activities (FAO and MEDRAP had a biotechnical approach). The National Focal points for PAP were informed in detail on the FAO and MEDRAP activities and on the joint programme of activities.

1985: The documents were prepared on ecological, social and economic aspects of aquaculture, and on environmental criteria in planning of aquaculture in Mediterranean coastal zones, as well as project outline for the cooperative project. A consultant mission was sent to Malta.

1986: A proposal was prepared of the cooperative project : Development of Ecological criteria for a Rational Development of Aquaculture in Mediterranean Coastal Areas. Consultant missions were sent to Yugoslavia, Spain, Turkey and Egypt upon request of those countries. MEDRAP sent missions to Tunisia and Morocco. Exchange of experience and documents with MEDRAP was continued, and PAP participated in the preparation of MEDRAP programme for the period 1986–87.

1987: Missions were sent to Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco with the objective to assess potential sites for aquaculture activities, and to discuss with and advise national experts on environmental aspects of aquaculture. With a PAP pilot project, feasibility and technical studies were prepared on the basis of environmental criteria. Preliminary contacts were made in order to identify a possible host-country and external contributions to the cooperative project. The project proposal was presented in the 5th Ordinary Conference of the Contracting Parties and adopted for further Procedure.

1988: The MEDRAP-UNDP project was terminated not to be continued, thus extinguishing a potential of financial support to the cooperative project. PAP continued, with the support of FAO, its efforts to find a host-country and to secure financing for the cooperative project, but without results. Therefore, only a limited programme was envisaged for the following year aimed at securing external support to the project.

1989: Guidelines were prepared for identification and protection of sites suitable for aquaculture. Efforts aimed at securing host-country and funds for the cooperative project were continued but without results. Therefore, the 7th ordinary Conference of the Contracting Parties, held in October 1989 in Athens) decided that all activities within this priority action be interrupted until the required external additional funds are secured.

1992: At initiative of MEDRAP II and FAO that PAP, jointly with MEDRAP II, take over the organization and implementation of EAM, the project document of environmentally sound planning and management of aquaculture was updated and presented in the MEDRAP II Steering Committee Meeting held in December 1992 in Tirana.

4. Appraisal of achievements: A good cooperation was established with FAO and the UNDP project MEDRAP. A network of institutions and experts was established, problems relative to the protection of sites suitable for aquaculture were identified, as well as those relative to environmental aspects of aquaculture planning and management.

The priority needs identified in the countries visited by missions were : identification and protection of sites suitable for aquaculture, proper management of such sites, specialized staff, research and production facilities. The mission to Malta was very successful in establishing aquaculture farms still working with good commercial results.

General recommendations made by the missions were :

-   Assistance and guidance to local staff would be welcome ;

-   Data are to be collected in a consistent manner by selecting those descriptors that provide valuable information ;

-   Descriptors chosen should not create any technical problems in sampling or measuring;

-   Standardization and intercalibration of sampling and measuring techniques has to be secured;

-   Conformity of the instrumentation and lab/field facilities of the participating institutions should meet at least minimum common standards;

-   Sampling strategy has to be chosen in a way as to be feasible everywhere, as well as techniques which involve simple, available and cheap instruments.

Criteria for environmentally sound planning and management of aquaculture in the Mediterranean region were prepared, as well as a proposal of a cooperative project of environmentally sound planning and management of aquaculture. The project was focused on ecological criteria relevant to the development of aquaculture activities departing from the fact that each site potentially suitable for aquaculture is a specific ecosystem. The objective of the project was to define, calibrate and improve an integrated strategy of site evaluation and monitoring for the development and protection of aquaculture.

It was considered that the project would benefit from the knowledge derived form other PAP activities, such as : integrated planning and management of coastal zones, environmental impact assessment, and solid and liquid waste management.

In 1987, a decision of UNDP terminated MEDRAP (Tunisia) removing thus the main potential partner in the project support and implementation. The PAP funds alone were far below the requirements of the cooperative project.Italy, as a potential host-country, decided to primarily support FAO, i.e. its regular programme, so it was nor able to co-finance the cooperative project as well. Therefore, the follow up of this action for 1988 and further was limited to maintaining contacts with FAO and potential hosts to the cooperative project.

5. The Annex I to this information presents schematically some outputs of this action.

6. The Annex II contains the list of experts who participated in the implementation of this priority action, while the list of relevant documents is given in the Annex III. A set of selected documents was sent to MEDRAP II in order to distribute them to the participants in the seminar together with this Information.

Integrated Coastal and Marine Areas Management (ICAM)
Experience of the MAP-PAP/RAC

By A.Pavasovic

UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

MEDRAP II Seminar on the Constitution of
the Network on Environmental Aspects of
Aquaculture in the Mediterranean region

Athens, June 14–15, 1993

- INTEGRATED COASTAL AND MARINE AREAS MANAGEMENT (ICAM) -
EXPERIENCE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN ACTION PLAN
AND THE PRIORITY ACTION PROGRAMME

Priority Actions programme
Regional Activity Centre
Split, may 1993

1. SOME BASIC FACTS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN ACTION PLAN - UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP)

Within the UNEP Regional Seas Programme (RSP), a total of 11 regional action plans are implemented, of which the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) is the leading and most developed one. The legal basis of MAP is the Convention on the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution, and its related Protocols, signed in 1976 in Barcelona (the “Barcelona” Convention). That Convention was signed by all Mediterranean countries and the European Community (EC). MAP is a Comprehensive programme of cooperation oriented at research into the causes of and protection against pollution of the Mediterranean sea and its coastal areas. MAP consists of 4 major components : (a) the scientific component dealing with research monitoring of the state of pollution of the Mediterranean Sea; (b) the socio-economic component oriented at prospective studies of environment - development interrelations, and at the implementation of the process of integrated planning and management in coastal areas; (c) the legal component - application of the Convention and its Protocols; and (d) institutional arrangements. A simplified organizational scheme of MAP is given in Fig. 1.

The scientific component (MEDPOL) deals with the assessment of the state of pollution, identification of pollutants and trends in the levels of pollution, proposals of methods of pollution control and management, and provision of relevant inputs for coastal area management. In 1983 MEDPOL started preparation and, later, implementation of the protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against pollution from Land-Based Sources. MEDPOL is coordinated by the MAP Coordinating Unit in Athens, and implemented through national MEDPOL programmes.

The socio-economic component consists of two programmes : the Blue Plan and the Priority Actions Programme.

The Blue Plan is a programme of prospective studies, using scenario methods related to development-environment interrelations, with the objective of providing inputs for environmentally sound development, planning and management in the region. The Blue Plan is implemented by the Blue Plan Regional Activity Centre (BP/RAC) located at Sophia Antipolis, France.

The Priority Actions Programme (PAP), is implemented by the Regional Activity Centre (PAP/RAC) in split, Croatia. It is an action-oriented programme aimed at carrying out practical actions, and contributing - through exchange of available knowledge and experience among the Mediterranean countries - to the protection and enhancement of the Mediterranean environment and to the strengthening of national and local capacities for the implementation of the process of integrated planning and management of coastal areas. The PAP Workplan comprises 10 individual priority actions relative to : coastal area planning and management, historic settlements, seismic risk, water resources management, urban solid and liquid wastes, soil protection, tourism, aquaculture, renewable sources of energy, and environmental impact assessment.

The legal component of MAP is oriented to the implementation of the legal aspects of the Barcelona Convention and its related protocols. The following protocols were adapted by the Contracting Parties : (a) for the protection against dumping from the ships and aircrafts (adopted in 1976 by 18 countries and EC); (b) for combating pollution by oil and other harmful substances in case of emergency (1976, 18 countries and EC); (c) for the protection from land-based sources of pollution (1980, 15 countries and EC); and (d) concerning Mediterranean specially protected areas (1982, 16 countries and EC). The activities related to the protocol on pollution by oil and other harmful substances are implemented through the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre (REMPEC) situated in Malta, while those relative to the specially protected areas are implemented by the Regional Activity Centre for Specially Protected Areas (SPA/RAC) situated in Tunisia.

The institutional component of MAP includes institutional and financial arrangements. UNEP act as the secretariat of MAP and coordinates the implementation of the plan. On that basis the MAP coordinating units in Athens, as a part of UNEP, coordinates the work of all programmes, implements MEDPOL and all activities related to the international cooperation of MAP.

Recently, MAP launched some new activities, such as : identification and protection of 100 historic sites of common Mediterranean interest (implemented by a new project Activity Centre in Marseille), programmes for the protection of endangered species, and for the assessment of impacts of climate changes, and remote sensing, while the protocol on Protection against Pollution caused by Exploration and Exploitation of the Sea Bed is in preparation.

After the decision to gradually refocus the entire programme on coastal area management, MAP started in 1989 a number of pilot programmes in selected Mediterranean coastal areas.

Although MAP is implemented through official governmental (national) bodies, it developed, especially since the refocusing on coastal area management, a cooperation with sub-national (regional, local) authorities and institutions, as well.

An ever growing importance in the implementation of MAP has been gained by the CEC whose environmental programme, and particularly the implementation of the charter of Nicosia of 1990, is closely related to MAP.

A number of specialized UN agencies and bodies have been taking part in the implementation, such as UNDP, WHO, FAO, UNESCO, UNCHS, and UNDRO. That secures the application and integration of the best and updated specialized knowledge, enabling, at the same time, a rational use of funds.

2. NEED FOR INTEGRATED COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT

Due to a strong, often uncontrolled development of coastal areas, urban expansion, and high rate of population growth, the marine and coastal resources are under permanent pressure. Pollution processes in many areas have already caused serious, often irreversible damages. The principal sources of pollution are mostly the same for all regional seas. Some of them could be illustrated at the example of the Mediterranean.

Of 360 million inhabitants of the Mediterranean coastal states, 38% live in the coastal zones. Larger part of industrial wastewaters and about 70% of urban wastewater of the Mediterranean towns are discharged into the sea treated insufficiently, inadequately or not at all. 40% of the total pollution load is borne by 5 big rivers. An ever increasing amount of transboundary pollution also has to be added, as well as diffuse sources of pollution. The consequences of such pollution are, among others, pollution of surface and ground fresh waters, soil degradation, rupture of ecosystems, irreversible loss of national resources, and a number of negative socio-economic consequences.

In spite of the above facts, we can say that, in the majority of its areas, the Mediterranean Sea has preserved its purity and beauty. It is less polluted than, for example, the Baltic, North or Black Seas. There are, however, numerous “black spots”: estuaries of big rivers, zones around large urban agglomerations, and many semi-enclosed bays. In general, north-western regions are more polluted than the south-eastern ones. The present tendencies, however, show the improvements in the former and deterioration in the latter.

Recent scientific research brought about a number of new facts on coastal areas. In the first place, it was realized that it is coastal areas and the adjacent sea, and not the regional seas that are most threatened by the uncontrolled development and pollution. It was understood that each eco-system has a limited capacity of assimilating the pollution load, that above that load very intensive processes start (red tide, plankton bloom, eutrophication, mucuous), and that those are extremely fragile systems the recovery of which, after the damage has been done, is a long and expensive process. It has finally become evident that, due to the number, complexity and intensity of relevant interactions occurring in coastal areas, the traditional, sectorial approach could not satisfy the requirements of environmental protection and rational use of resources. Since the above problems result mostly from the uncontrolled development processes, the need was universally accepted of integrating the environment policy in the development policy, and applying an integrated approach to the coastal area management.

Integrated Coastal Area Management

Integrated coastal area management (ICAM) can be defined as a set of activities implemented at political, scientific, technical, and administrative levels with the objective to initiate, plan, implement, monitor and re-evaluate the process of sustainable development and environmental protection of coastal areas. It is not a substitute for sectorial planning and management, but focuses on the linkage between sectorial activities to achieve more comprehensive goals of sustainable development in coastal areas.

The prerequisites of ICAM are the knowledge of the coastal and marine eco-system concerned, the state of environmental pollution, as well as a socio-economic, institutional, political and other interactions influencing that system.

According to the PAP experience, under the conditions in the majority of the Mediterranean, and particularly developing countries, an integrated coastal area management system should contain the following :

-   research of the eco-systems, and pollution monitoring and survey programme;

-   a set of measures for immediate and short-term activities to protect coastal systems and reduce pollution;

-   conditions, measures, and actions for sustainable coastal resource uses and development;

-   measures to ensure appropriate and harmonized management of the most important resources;

-   measures to protect and restore areas of exceptional natural, historic, cultural and/or other values;

-   measures to assess and manage/mitigate natural and other hazards;

-   a programme of development and improvement of national and local capabilities for research, monitoring, planning and management of coastal areas;

-   an institutionalized system of public participation in the process.

The basic requirements of an effective institutional arrangement for ICAM are the following :

1. vertical integration of management levels (national, sub-national, local);

2. horizontal integration between line ministries and institutions);

3. MAP AND PAP EXPERIENCE IN ICAM

The new understanding of the sensitivity of coastal areas to changes; of a necessity to provide for the sustainable development which secures a rational development with the protection of resources and environment; and of the need to apply ICAM led to a new approach to planning and management of coastal areas. Sectorial approach results not only inadequate, but also caused uncontrolled development and environmental pollution. Therefore a concept of integrated planning and management was introduced and applied in the Mediterranean countries. The term “integrated”refers to the integration of technological, economic, social, cultural, ecological and institutional elements into the planning and management process.

Ever since the beginning of its activity, the PAP/RAC has been implementing, among others, the priority action “Integrated Planning and Management of Coastal Areas”. The main objective of that action was to develop, on the basis of the experience of the Mediterranean countries, especially the developed ones, a methodological approach to the planning and management of coastal areas, primarily suitable for the conditions prevailing in the Mediterranean developing countries. A document entitled “A Common Methodological Framework for Integrated planning and Management in Mediterranean Coastal Areas”was formulated and adopted. According to that document ICAM is:

“a dynamic processing of achieving goals and objectives for environmentally sustainable development, within the limits of physical, social and economic conditions and within the constraints of legal, financial and administrative systems and institutions. Being process-oriented, integrated planning does not have as its objective the preparation of an ultimate product-plan, as an ideal state which is hoped to be achieved by a certain time in future. Rather, it is an adaptive process of resource management, capable of responding to expected or unforeseen changes and events. This process includes analysis and forecasting, plan making and evaluation, monitoring and feedback, all of which should be oriented towards achieving clearly defined goals and objectives through practical and effective means of implementation.

A schematic presentation of the process of integrated planning and management is given in Fig. 2.

That methodological framework served as the basis for the development of PAP pilot project and, later MAP Coastal Area Management Programmes (CAMPS). Throughout the years, MAP/PAP approach to ICAM has been applied and tested in a number of sites in the Mediterranean, under various development, environmental, and institutional conditions.

The experience showed that the application of ICAM is particularly necessary for the Mediterranean coastal areas, where dynamic on - and off-shore natural processes are constantly changing physical conditions, were intense conflicts arise between economic activities competing for land space, shoreline or sea space, and where development at one location may generate significant changes in conditions elsewhere. In addition to that, a number of tools and techniques of ICAM have been developed and tested by PAP and other MAP centres.

3.1 MAP-PAP Experience in the Application of Tools and Techniques Suitable for ICAM

In the period 1982–1992, MAP and PAP developed and applied a number of tools and techniques suitable for ICAM.

3.1.1 Environment - Development Scenarios - the Blue Plan

Understanding of the interaction between the environment and foreseeable future development is an important prerequisite for ICAM. Prospective studies exploring future options are the tool for achieving this. The basis for prospective studies is a systematic approach, it provides authorities, planners and managers with the opportunity of setting their development strategies within a context that assures the protection of the environment and facilities of areas of cooperation at local, national and international levels.

A development-environment scenario is usually long-term oriented (time horizon of up to 30 years), and could be regarded as a link between the present and the future through a pathway built in stages of 5–10 years periods. A simplified picture of the phases of a scenario preparation lists: (a) setting up of an initial scenario; (b) selection of hypothesis; (c) development of a pathway; and (d) definition of a possible evolution and possible final scenarios.

An example of a regional prospective study is the Blue Plan for the Mediterranean Area. Detailed sectorial aspects of the Blue plan were prepared in a number of volumes. Based on the methodology of the Blue plan, a number of national scenarios have also been prepared or are under preparation in Mediterranean countries.

With regard to the importance of the results of the Blue Plan for the analysis of development options of the Mediterranean, the main indicators are given in Fig. 3.

3.1.2 Other Tools and Techniques of Integrated Planning and Management of Coastal Zones

Within the priority action on integrated planning and management of coastal areas, PAP adapted and tested through pilot applications a number of other practical tools and techniques, of which the following should be metioned:

-   Geographical Information System (pcARC/INFO) ;

-   Environmental Impact Assessment;

-   Carrying Capacity Assessment for tourism development;

-   multicriterial analysis for optimum site selection for development project;

-   Hazard Assessment and Risk Management of industrial, energy, transport and other activities.

The MAP Coordinating Unit and UNEP-OCA/PAC have recently developed and tested a technique of quick cost/benefit analysis of the application of measures for the protection of the sea against pollution from land-based sources.

Action related to the application of the Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean from Accidental Pollution are implemented by REMPEC in Malta. Within that programme, training programmes were developed, a Regional Information Centre was established, and a number of documents were prepared regarding the operational arrangements.

The SPA Centre in Tunis developed the criteria for the identification and protection of areas of special natural, historic and archaeological importance, and an inventory of the hitherto included areas on the Mediterranean.

3.1.3 Climate Change and Coastal Zone Management

Assessment and mitigation of impacts of expected Climate changes is a very important new element of coastal zone management, Research performed in the last 10 years confirmed as highly probable that in the next century the world will have to face significant climate changes that will have a strong and unfortunately predominantly negative impact on the Mediterranean coastal Zones.

UNEP and MAP have prepared a large number of studies of impacts of the expected climate changes. At the same time, PAP prepared a methodological framework for integrating the assessment and mitigation measures of climate change impacts into the integrated coastal zone planning and management process in the Mediterranean conditions. The studies confirmed the significance and importance of bearing those changes in mind now, within the process of ICAM, although more significant impacts of those changes will only be felt in 30–40 years from now.

3.2 MAP Coastal Area Management Programmes (CAMPs)

Recognising the need to translate the proposed ICAM approach into life, as the only way for its testing and improvement, MAP introduced a new form of activity. It is an area-specific activity based on the integration of knowledge and experience obtained by all MAP components through projects carried out in small selected areas of the region. The results of the PAP action “Integrated Planning and Management of Mediterranean Coastal Areas” were therein used as a point of departure.

During the period 1988–1989, four area-specific projects were launched (originally called Country Pilot Projects - CPPs) : the Bay of Izmir (Turkey), the Island of Rhodes (Greece), the Kastela Bay (Yugoslavia), and the Coastal Region (Syria) . The bulk of activities within these CPPs were carried out by PAP, with the participation of other components of MAP.

Results achieved in CPPs in the 1988–89 biennium seemed to have a considerable weight. As a consequence, the 6th ordinary Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (Athens, 1989) decided that those activities be continued, and that all MAP components be included evenly. That required certain changes in the methodological and organizational approach, as well as the change of the name of the pilot projects into“Coastal Area Management Programmes” (CAMPs).

The following criteria were used for CAMP site selection:

1. the area must be specific with regard to development problems and their impact on the state of environment;

2. with regard to its properties, the area must be typical, enabling the experience obtained in resolving its problems to be used in tackling similar problems faced elsewhere in the Mediterranean region;

3. the selected zone has to be either threatened or already significantly affected by and polluted due to uncontrolled development;

4. there have exist sufficient capacities of national and local institution and authorities that can carry the implementation of the joint programmes;

5. the countries from which the areas have been selected must express interested in resolving environmental problems at a short and long run, and secure dissemination of results;

6. these countries must guarantee an appropriate organizational and institutional conditions for the preparation of CAMPs, particularly the involvement of their local and national experts, and the continuity of the process of integrated planning and coastal resources management.

When defining specific objectives and strategies of the CAMPs, the departure points were the Genoa Declaration and the Charter of Nicosia.

The long-time cooperation of MAP and the governments and institutions of the Mediterranean countries in which the selected areas are located, and the experience gained by PAP pilot projects excluded the need of performing, in the preparatory phase, detailed analyses of general conditions in those countries and particularly the institutional arrangements.

When defining the conceptual framework and approach, it was necessary to take into consideration the general MAP principles of action and some regulation of the Barcelona Convention. Due to the fact that UNEP and MAP are not funding agencies, the implementation of CAMPs may result in the following:

-   completion of environmental knowledge;

-   proposals for immediate action;

-   technical and economic measures for addressing existing environmental problems;

-   integrated management plans based on the principles of sustainable development;

-   studies and reports on the specific subjects and measures for the solutions of problems encountered in the domain of these subjects;

-   training of local and national experts;

-   demonstration projects;

-   monitoring programme;

-   database for various development and environment aspects;

-   software to be used in solving some specific problems;

-   programme of response to accidental situations;

-   application of modern tools and techniques of ICAM and regulations of the Barcelona Convention;

-   proposals for the international financial support to future activities and projects.

The programmes are carried out through the exchange and application of advanced international knowledge and experience, and with the assistance of international, primarily Mediterranean experts who cooperate as consultants with national and local institutions and experts. A scheme of the methodological framework of MAP CAMPs is given in Fig. 4.

The MAP CAMPs are implemented in 3 majors phases:

-   preparatory phase, which includes collection of data, acquisition of knowledge on local and national capabilities and institutional arrangement, networking, creation of conditions for national and local co-financing, and, if possible, for external financial support, and, finally, formulation of the programmes and of the agreement to be signed;

-   implementation phase, in which most part of the programme is implemented;

-   final phase, in which the activities that could not be performed in the implementation phase are completed, the final report is prepared and the overall results are analyzed and presented at the local, national and international levels.

The average duration of a single CAMP is approximately 5 years. This should be looked upon through the fact that the contracting parties to the Barcelona Convention evaluate and approve programmes on a biannual basis, and the flow of finances is not steady enough to secure a continuous implementation of CAMPs. The Fig. 5 presents the MAP approach to CAMPs.

Institutional arrangement for the implementation of MAP CAMPs comprises all MAP components coordinated by the coordinating Unit in Athens, the authorized national institution acting as the National Focal Point for MAP (usually a ministry or national agency for environment), and the local authorities in charge of programme implementation. For each activity or project within a MAP CAMP, a separate institutional arrangement is defined which may include other line ministries, authorities and institutions.

The legal bases of the implementation of a MAP CAMP are: (a) deliberations of the Conferences of the Contracting parties: (b) the contract signed by the MAP Coordinator and the authorized person (minister, director, president) of the national institution acting as the National Focal Point for MAP.

Cooperation with the World Bank and European Investment Bank. After the Agreement on Joint Activities and Cooperation in the Implementation of Coastal Zone Management Programmes was signed by UNEP and those banks in 1988, MAP established a direct cooperation with them within the implementation of MAP CAMPs. On the basis of that cooperation, those banks agreed that, apart from their own programme of help in the Mediterranean (EPM-METAP), they would co-finance the on-going MAP CAMPs in the amount of up to US$ 300,000 per programme.

Financial arrangements. The contracts for each CAMP define the financial liabilities of each participant. Although there are some variations in cost-sharing structure, it could be said that in general 50% of the expenses, in cash and kind, are covered by the national and local institutions and authorities, and 50% by MAP and international donors.

Programme evaluation is envisaged with the following dynamics: yearly (at the meetings of the MAP socio-economic committee), biannually (at the ordinary conferences of the Contracting Parties), and upon the completion of the programme.

In the following sections, a short description will be given of the CAMPs which are currently in the phase of implementation.

3.2.1 MAP CAMP “The Bay of Izmir”

The project covers the area of the Metropolitan Municipality of Izmir located around the Bay of Izmir in the Aegean region of the Western Coast of Turkey. The population amounts to 1.8 million with a tendency of constant growth (4.4% annually). The city is a strong industrial centre, a commercial and navy harbour. Most of the industrial and all urban wastewater and run-off are discharged into the bay without any treatment. The bay is heavily polluted and the Inner Bay faces a progressive process of eutrophication. Tourist activity is intensive in the surrounding area. National and local authorities have been making great efforts on improving the situation. A project of urban wastewater collection, treatment and disposal is in implementation, co-financed by the World Bank, scheduled to be completed in 1995.

The long-term objectives of the CAMP are the following:

-   propose a development concept of the area of Izmir harmonized with the receptive capacity of the environment;

-   create conditions for the establishment of the ICAM process in the area of Izmir by;

1. establishing a monitoring programme of the environment on a permanent basis;

2. setting up a data base of all necessary environment and development indicators;

3. providing training of local experts on various aspects of the programme.

The objectives of this CAMP are presented in the Fig. 6.

The activities implemented by the programme are the following: implementation of the Land Based Sources Protocol, implementation of the emergency protocol and MARPOL Convention, extended monitoring programme of the Izmir Bay, study on implication of expected climate changes, training programme on GIS on pcARC/INFO, development-environment scenario, integrated study of the area, study on the protection of the Tuzla migratory birds nesting area (see Fig. 7).

Most of the above activities are in the final phase of implementation and expected to be completed by the end of 1993.

3.2.2 MAP CAMP “The Kastela Bay”

This project has been formulated as a contribution to the already on-going national project “Rational Management of Natural Resources of the Kastela Bay” developed and implemented by the University of Split, Croatian Academy of Arts and Sciences, with support by local, national and CEC funds. The project covers the areas of the municipalities of Split, Solin, Kastela and Trogir situated at the Adriatic coast of Croatia, with surface area of approximately 1500 km² and 250,00 inhabitants. The entire coastal area is urbanized, with numerous industries and well developed tourism on the outskirts. Due to urban growth and development of industry, as well as discharge of only primarily treated wastewater, the bay is very polluted with eutrophication in its easternmost part. A project of urban sewage collection, treatment and disposal is in the beginning of implementation, but the funds secured so far will suffice only for a part of the sewerage system.

The long-term objectives of this MAP CAMP are the following:

-   to contribute, in as concrete and direct way as possible, to the implementation of the infrastructure programme for the split agglomeration around the Kastela Bay (“Split-Solin-Kastela Integrated Ecological Project”);

-   to contribute to the upgrading of institutional and local capacities for establishing a continuing process of integrated planning and management of this coastal area which would enable a harmonious and sound use and development of natural resources, reduction of pollution from the existing sources, and a permanent protection of the bay (in harmony with the national project “Rational Management of Natural Resources of the Kastela Bay”.

The tasks related to the primary objectives implied the collection of important and to date unavailable environmental and socio-economic information, as well as the completion of scientific and technical knowledge necessary for the effectuation of the infrastructure programme.

The achievement of the second objective requires the development of modern tools and techniques to be applied under local conditions in the process of ICAM, as well as creation of measures and plans of response in cases of accidental pollution.

For the implementation of this programme, a financial support by the World Bank was secured.

Activities implemented within the MAP CAMP are: survey of land based sources of pollution; assessment of risk from pollution by oil and other harmful substances and preparation of a contingency plan; additional pollution survey and monitoring programme; study on the implications of expected climate changes; training on the application of GIS on pcARC/INFO within the planning and management process; hazard assessment and management risk from energy, industries, transport and other activities; development-environment scenarios; EIA of submarine outfall; study on the optimum treatment level for municipal wastewaters; evaluation of Pantan, an area of specific natural and historic value, study of water resources of the western part of the programme area, study of water supply of the islands of Drvenik Veli and Drvenik Mali.

By mid 1993, all of the above mentioned activities have been completed.

3.2.3 MAP CAMP “The Island of Rhodes”

The programme covers the Greek island of Rhodes situated at the south-eastern corner of the Aegean Archipelago, at a short distance from Asia Minor. The island covers an area of 1400 km₂ with about 90,000 inhabitants. International tourism (20–25% of the total number of international tourists in Greece) is the principal activity in the island. Besides the historic town of Rhodes, in the island there are many other historic settlements and archaeological sites. A strong development of tourism defines the island economy as mono-culture, and represents a threat through the pollution of the environment, overbuilding, over-exploitation and pollution of freshwater aquifers. The most prominent problems regard the discharged the solid and liquid wastes, protection of historic heritage, and water supply and water resources management.

The activities implemented within the programme are the following: implementations of the land based sources and the dumping protocols; study on liquid waste management, implementation of the emergency protocol; preparation of the General Water Resources Master Plan; study of implications of the expected climate changes; programme of environmentally sound energy planning; programme of protection of historic settlement; training programme on and application of GIS on pcARC/INFO; environmental impact assessment of a sewage treatment and disposal project; development-environment scenario; training programme on integrated planning; integrated planning study for the island; study on the protection of the Butterfly Valley. The programme is supported by the European Investment Bank.

At the moment of writing this paper only a part of the activities are in implementation, and the programme is expected to be completed by the end of 1994.

3.2.4 MAP CAMP “The Syrian Coast”

The programme covers the entire watershed of the Syrian coastal area, with the coastline length of 183 km and population of 1.3 million inhabitants. It is a zone very rich with natural resources and with a very significant development potential. There are several large towns (Lattaquia, Tartous, Banyas) where industry is concentrated. The entire area has sufficient water, the soil is fertile and traditional agriculture had a strong development. Although there are numerous places suitable for tourism, its development as only recently become subject to the interest and plans of the Government. Urban wastewaters are directly discharged into the sea without any treatment. An extensive use of fertilizers causes pollution of the aquifer.

A specific element of the preparation of this programme was in the fact that prior to the inauguration of the CAMP, within the PAP Pilot Project, a comprehensive planning study of the entire area was prepared, determining the principle elements of the sustainable development of the coastal area.

The following activities were performed within the programme: implementation of the land based sources and the dumping protocols; implementation of the emergency protocol and the MARPOL Convention; monitoring programme of the marine environment; study on the implications of the expected climate changes; protection and management plan of historic settlements; training programme on and application of GIS on pcARC/Info within the planning process; EIA of the Amrit tourism development project; development-environment scenario; coastal resources management plan; programme for the protection of specially protected area.

The entire programme was completed by mid 1992, and was presented to the national and local authorities. Since then, a number of proposals and recommendations made were implemented in practice.

The results of individual activities within the on-going programmes have already been used when designing concrete projects. In the cases of the Izmir and the Kastela bays it refers to the projects of collections, treatment and disposal of urban wastewaters. They will also be used for defining submarine outfalls. In 3 of the 4 projects, the prepared planning documents will make the basis for the preparation and adoption of land-use, sea-use and urban plans (Syrian coast, Rhodes, Izmir).

For each MAP CAMP upon their completion (during 1993), final reports will be prepared and evaluations made. The reports will be presented to the national and local authorities, and later put at the disposal of all Mediterranean Countries.

3.3 Guidelines for ICAM

On the basis of experience gained hitherto through the implementation of MAP CAMPs, and at initiative of OCA/PAC-UNEP, PAP has prepared in 1992, in cooperation with the MAP Coordinating Unit FAO, “Guidelines for the Integrated Coastal and Marine Areas Management with Special Reference to the Mediterranean Basin”. At the moment, the second draft of the Guidelines is ready and was submitted to OCA/PAC for revision.

3.4 Follow-up Activities

Finally, it should be mentioned that the Seventh Ordinary Conference of the Contracting parties (Cairo, October 1991) authorized the preparation and launch of 3 new MAP CAMPs to be implemented in the areas of Fuka (Egypt), Sfax (Tunisia) and Durres-Vlore (Albania), Preparatory activities for these CAMPs started in 1993. All the experienced gained in the implementation of the four previously described on-going programmes will be used for the formulation, preparation and implementation of the new projects. Also, other developments achieved within the PAP action “Integrated planning and Management of Mediterranean Coastal Areas” will be implemented in the on-going and future CAMPs.

Mediterranean Lagoon Management

By A. Orbi

CONSTITUTION DU RESEAU SUR LA GESTION
DES LAGUNES

Dans le cadre du séminaire sur l'élevage des mollusques, organisé pa le MEDRAP du 9 au 18 juin 1992 en France (Nantes et sète), une réunion s'est tenue au Grand Hôtel à sète entre les représentants des pays du bassin méditerranéen intéressés par la constitution du réseau relatif à la gestion des lagunes.

Le Maroc, représenté par Monsieurs Abdellatif BERRAHO et Abdellatif ORBI, est le point focal du projet. Mr. GUELORGET.O (France) et Mr. MEDHOUB M.N. (Tunisie) ont été désignés rapporteurs de la séance Ont assité à cette réunion les représentants des suivants :

La Croatie
L'Egypte
La Bulgarie
L'Algérie
La Turquie
L'Albanie
Le Maroc
Le Portugal
La Tunisie
Malte
La France
La Libye
MEDRAP II

Vu que les lagunes marines sont des milieux particuliers, présentant une fragilité et tout déséquilibre provoque en général des catastrophes.

Il a été proposé de :

-   Mettre au point des approches et modèles de gestion de chaque milieu lagunaire pour éviter les catastrophes. Cette étude traite l'hydrodynamisme de l'eau, l'écologie et la socio-économie. La connaissance du premier aspect commande et oriente les deux autres.

-   Unir et concentrer les efforts de tous les pays méditerranéens pour profiter des expériences déjà réalisées et pour la mise en place d'une méthodologie commune et de banques d'informations.

-   Constituer un réseau à l'échelle du bassin méditerranéen pour gérer les lagunes pendant la phase MEDRAP II et post MEDRAP II

1. Les pays intéressés par la constitution de ce réseau sont :

-   La Yougoslavie (Croatie) sous reserve de confirmation

-   L'Egypte

-   La Bulgarie (sous reserve de confirmation)

-   L'Algérie

-   La Turquie

-   Le Maroc

-   Le Portugal

-   La Tunisie (sous reserve de confirmation)

-   L'Albanie (proposé par le président de la séance)

-   La Libye (       "          "             "         "           "      )

Le Liban et Malte ne sont pas intéressés par la constitution du réseau. Les représentants, de l'Albanie et la Libye et la Libye n'étaient pas présents à la réunion. Leur pays ont été proposés par le président de la séance.

2. Le programme d'activité pour l'année 1992/94 :

2.1. Organisation:

L'échange de données et le transfert du savoir faire seront réalisés dans des. “Ateliers sites”.

2.2 Domaine d'intervention :

Trois aspects seront abordés aucours des “Atelier sites”:

-   Aspect hydrodynamique

-   Aspect écologique (zonation, biologie, physiologie …)

-   Aspect socio-économique et juridique.

Chaque pays membre désigne une cellule pour la participation à ce réseau. Il s'engage d'élaborer un programme de travail sur une lagune dans le cadre des activités de leurs institutions de recherches. Le coordinateur national veille au bon fonctionnement du réseau et de l'état d'avancement des travaux.

2.3 Les sites lagunaires proposés sont :

Après discussion, ont été proposé les ateliers sites suivants :

La synthèse de ces trois ateliers se fera à Montpelier en 1995 par l'organisation d'un symposium régional.

3. Aspects financiers :

Deux phases pour le financement du projet sont discutées :

3.1. phase MEDRAP II

Seul les frais de consultants seront pris en charge par MEDRAP Il, les participants des pays seront pris en charge par les pays eux mêmes.

3.2. Phase post MEDRAP II

Après l'achèvement du MEDRAP II en 1993, les institutions internationales et régionales (FAO, PNUD, UNESCO, CEE …) peuvent prendre en charge la gestion du réseau.

LISTE OF PARTICIPANTS

MAP-PAP/RAC Proposals concerning the constitution
of EAM Network and Activities to be implemented
in the 1994–1995 period

by I. Katavic

MEDRAP II Seminar on the Constitution
of the Environment and Aquaculture
Network in the Mediterranean (EAM)

Athens, 14–15 June 1993

(Discussion paper)

Priority Actions Programme
Regional Activity Centre
Split-Athens, June 1993

Note

The objective of this discussion paper is to introduce the Seminar participants to the EAM Network programme and its proposed activities, as well as to present MAP-PAP/RAC views and procedure concerning the constitution of the Network and the programme implementation taking into consideration the MAP-UNEP Practices and rules of procedures.

The participants of the seminar are invited to discuss, comment and prioritize the elements of the EAM Network programme suggested in sections 2 and 5.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the total cumulative costs given in section 5.4 is only an indication of the budget requirements for the implementation of all listed activities. Since this amount is considerable overcoming the available funds, the EAM Network workplan for the 1993–1995 period should be adjusted accordingly.

Finally, Participants are invited to analyze the section 6 of the document which reflects the UNEP AND MAP/PAP institutional and other prerequisites for the constitution and implementation of the EAM Network programme.

1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1.1 Since 1990, the UNDP/FAO Mediterranean Regional Aquaculture Project - MEDRAP II is carrying out activities aimed at the establishment of permanent regional networking structures for the co-ordination of co-operative aquaculture development efforts in the Mediterranean region. UNDP advocates the institutionalization of the MEDRAP II activities after the project's closure.

In order to comply with UNDP'S instruction, a meeting was held in June 1992 in Algiers in which the countries' representatives suggested that the use of existing networking institutions was the solution to be preferred indicating that UNEP/MAP-PAP/RAC should be approached for aquaculture and environment activities, and that the GFCM could be envisaged as an equivalent to the present MEDRAP II steering committee after the creation of a sub-committee for Aquaculture.

At present, it is envisaged that a sub-committee on Aquaculture will be established at the forthcoming GFCM session which would provide the overall co-ordination and advice to all projected aquaculture networks including the EAM network, the network on Technology of Aquaculture in the Mediterranean (TECAM), the network on social, Economic and Legal Aspects of Aquaculture in the Mediterranean (SELAM), and the network on the Information system for the promotion of Aquaculture in the Mediterranean (SIPAM). MAP-PAP/RAC is interested to co-ordinate, as the EAM network centre, regional activities in support of environmental assessment and management of existing and future aquaculture practices with in the context of Integrated Coastal and Marine Areas Management (ICAM) which represents its main field of activities. FAO fully supports the establishment of a permanent and operational EAM network as well as the continuation of fruitful co-operation initiated between MAP-PAP/RAC and the FAO/UNDP MEDRAP I and later on the MEDRAP II project.

1.2 The priority Actions programme (PAP), which is part of the Mediterranean Action plan (MAP) of UNEP, is technically coordinated by the MAP Regional Activity Centre (RAC) located in Split, Croatia. PAP is implemented within the framework of the integrated planning and management component of MAP, its main field of activity being the application of the ICAM concept in Mediterranean coastal areas. Several priority actions have been carried out within PAP since 1984. One of these is the priority action on the Environmental Aspects of Aquaculture Development in the Mediterranean Region which was launched in co-operation with the MEDRAP I UNDP Project and FAO - Fisheries Department.

Since the time this priority action was launched, several basic documents have been prepared, namely : “Aquaculture and Coastal planning in the Mediterranean”, “Ecological, Social and Economic Aspects of Coastal Aquaculture in the Mediterranean Region”, and “An Approach to the Inventory of Sites suitable for Aquaculture in Mediterranean Coastal Areas”. Furthermore, a project proposal has been developed focusing on ecological criteria relevant to the development of aquaculture activities. Details on the activities to date are provided in a separate document which will be presented at the seminar.

1.3 Following a detailed consideration of previous experiences and co-operation by MAP-PAP/RAC and MEDRAP documented in the reports of the Seminar on Aquaculture and Environment (Bordeaux, March 1992), the Seminar on Lagoon Management (Nantes and Sète, June 1992), as well as in the Notes of PAP-MEDRAP II Meeting on the Network Concerning the Environmental Aspects of Aquaculture Management in the Mediterranean Region (Split, March 1993), this draft programme discussion paper has been formulated on the basis of ideas and activities suggested in the MEDRAP II draft project document (1993) entitled “Environmental Aspects of Aquaculture Management in the Mediterranean (EAM) ”.

2. TOPICS OF POSSIBLE CO-OPERATION ON AQUACULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION

Benefiting from the experiences of FAO, MEDRAP I and MEDRAP II, and the PAP activities carried out over the period 1984–1989, as well as taking into account the development of aquaculture in the Mediterranean region, we believe that the following areas should be taken into consideration in conceiving the programme of EAM Network :

-   Potential ecological impact of aquaculture on the environment, and vice versa.

-   Site selection for different aquaculture systems.

-   Environmental management in selected aquaculture practices in the context of ICAM.

-   Environmentally harmful aquaculture practices.

-   Legislation in support of environmentally sound aquaculture.

-   Impact of the culture stock on the wildlife habitat.

-   Genetical impact of escaped fish on the natural population.

-   Development of farm level protocol on the chemical usage.

-   Assessment of environmental hazards and impact on aquaculture.

-   Assessment of environmental impact as a positive factor in environmental management.

-   Assessment of the capacity of the ecosystem to sustain aquaculture development with minimal ecological change.

-   Assessment and evaluation of the true consequences of transfer and introduction of exotic organisms.

3. SCOPE OF THE EAM NETWORK PROGRAMME IN THE 1993–1995 PERIOD

Starting from the results of MEDRAP II and the ensuing discussions on the Network, we feel that the following formulation presented in the MEDRAP II Draft project Document (page 9) may be understood as the scope of the EAM Network :

-   to contribute to the optimization of aquaculture production, through the ecological characterization of coastal zones, the set-up of site identification methodology and management guidelines;

-   to contribute to the protection and preservation of natural environment, through specific procedures of monitoring, and through the establishment of standards, recommendations and frame for national legislation;

-   to provide information on the environmental performances of aquaculture in order to define its appropriate position within the context of integrated coastal area management (ICAM).

4. AREAS OF PRIORITY INTEREST FOR THE EAM NETWORK PROGRAMME

Taking full account of the experience and programme orientation of FAO, MEDRAP II and PAP/RAC, as well as the results of the UNCED Conference held in Rio in 1992, it seems justifiable to accept the following as the main areas of priority need and interest for the aquaculture in the Mediterranean :

1. Ecologically sound integrated management of aquaculture in coastal areas.

2. Selection and protection of sites suitable for aquaculture.

3. Interaction between the coastal environment and aquaculture.

5 PROPOSAL OF ACTIVITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION WITHIN THE EAM NETWORK PROGRAMME IN THE 1993–1995 PERIOD

Departing from the fields of possible activities presented in chapter 2, and priorities proposed in chapter 4, the following description contains several activity modules developed in order to distinguish clearly their respective objectives, workplans and funding requirements.

It is emphasized that the total number of activity modules presented, and the sum of expected costs, would certainly exceed the amount of funds available.

The participants of MEDRAP II seminar on the constitution of the EAM network are invited to discuss, amend and prioritize these activity modules. The EAM Network programme for 1993– 1995 will be implemented according to the priorities agreed upon, with due consideration of the amount of funds available.

5.1 Priority area: Ecologically sound integrated management of aquaculture in Mediterranean coastal areas.

Activity module No. 1: Environmentally sound management of aquaculture within the framework of ICAM (Integrated Coastal and Marine Areas Management)

Objective : to assist in integrated programming for ecologically sound development of aquaculture in Mediterranean coastal areas.

Outputs:

-   Guidelines to facilitate the design and implementation of integrated management plans for aquaculture in Mediterranean coastal areas.

-   Integrated aquaculture management plan for a selected pilot area.

-   Workshop report.

Workplan

-   EAM staff will undertake high-level visits to relevant national authorities to agree on assistance programme, obligations and responsibilities.

-   A 5-day field visit of 2 experts is foreseen to appraise the main coastal issues relevant to existing aquaculture operations in a selected pilot area.

Expected outputs of this visit are :

1. a preliminary analysis document - organizational and institutional arrangements, existing and potential coastal resources use conflicts, aquaculture plans and plans of other coastal uses;

2. recommendations (instructions) and proposal of a workplan for the formulation of a detailed intergrative plan, including tasks to be carried out by national experts.

-   Relevant documents will be prepared by the national team, with the assistance of international experts.

-   The draft plan will be evaluated and reviewed by EAM, and the final text of the plan submitted to the Government.

-   Finally, a workshop for interested Mediterranean experts and institution to present the procedure and experiences obtained will be organized.

5.2 Priority area: Selection and protection of sites suitable for aquaculture.

Activity module No. 2: Definition of appropriate site selection descriptors for aquaculture systems practiced in the Mediterranean region.

Objective: Definition of environmental descriptors needed for the identification of requirements and limits set by both the nature and community aimed at the identification and protection of sites suitable for relevant aquaculture systems.

Outputs:

-   Guidelines for the preparation of inventories of sites suitable for lagoonar production, land-based aquaculture, mollusc and cage cultures, containing: (a) a list of relevant site selection descriptors and related sampling/measurement instructions, and (b) aquaculture site specific factors to be considered in both environment protection measures and land (and water) use planning programmes.

-   Reports on technical assistance to interested countries.

-   Inventory of sites prepared in one selected pilot area.

-   Workshop report.

Workplan

This activity module consists of two components: (1) formulation of guidelines for the preparation of inventories of suitable sites for 4 different production systems based on the definition of respective site selection descriptors, and (2) testing of guidelines to be made by assisting one interested country in the preparation of inventories of sites suitable for selected production systems.

Technical assistance through consultants, if requested by countries, is possible, but in the budget is considered only optionally.

5.3 Priority area: Interaction between the costal environment and aquaculture.

Activity modules No. 3,4,5 and 6 : Assessment of experiences in environmental management in selected aquaculture practices.

These activity modules are designed to deal each with one of the four production systems listed below. They can be implemented in parallel during the EAM Network programme in 1993–1995, depending on priorities set and funds available:

The workplan applies to the following production systems :

1. lagoonar production;
2. land-based aquaculture systems;
3. mollusc culture;
4. cage culture.

Objective : to advise on feasible environmental management measures in selected aquaculture systems in the Mediterranean region.

Outputs :

-   Environmental management measures in selected aquaculture systems in the Mediterranean region.

-   Technical report containing a detailed study (ies) and practical guidelines for environmental management of aquaculture in the Mediterranean region.

Workplan

Field visit of international experts to selected national institutes and aquaculture sites (4) to discuss and set up working procedure for the implementation of case study (ies) and preparation of case study (ies) report.

National team assisted by an international expert will (a) prepare draft case study reports, and (b) formulate practical guidelines.

International and national experts will prepare jointly the draft Technical Report and send it to collaborating institutes in the region. After the incorporation of comments by all experts involved, the final Technical Report will be submitted to EAM Network centre for dissemination.

Activity module No. 7: Assessment and monitoring of potential ecological impacts of aquaculture on the environment.

Objective : to identify the key monitoring requirements in the main Mediterranean aquaculture practices.

Outputs :

-   Working group report containing scientifically based recommendations on environmental impact assessment/monitoring for selected aquaculture practices which may be included in the countries regulations for EIA in aquaculture;

-   Workshop report (together with Activity module No. 8).

Workplan

The working group (composed of experts specialized in the 4 production systems) will prepare the draft report on the subject, according to Terms of Reference provided by the EAM Network centre. The consolidated draft report will be submitted to the EAM Network centre for evaluation, comments and requests for amendments, if any. The final report will be disseminated and presented in a regional workshop to be organized jointly with the activity No. 8.

Activity module No. 8: Identification of key parameters of aquatic pollution affecting the main Mediterranean aquaculture practices.

Objective : to advise on (a) main environmental hazards to existing and future aquaculture practices, and on (b) procedures and requirements for hazard assessment and monitoring of non-aquaculture pollutants affecting aquaculture operations or the quality of aquaculture products. and future aquaculture.

Outputs:

Working group report containing : (1) scientific review of aquatic pollution risks to Mediterranean aquaculture, (2) suggestions on hazard assessment and monitoring of non-aquaculture pollutants, and (3) recommendations to the countries' environment protection authorities on possible actions/measures to prevent/mitigate adverse effects of aquatic pollution on aquaculture practices.

Workplan

A Working group composed of 4 international specialists (one for each production system) will prepare a draft report on the subject, according to Terms of Reference prepared by EAM Network centre.

The draft report will be submitted to EAM Network centre for evaluation, comments and requests for amendments, if any. The consolidated report will be disseminated and presented at a regional workshop to be organized jointly with the activity No. 7.

5.4 TOTAL/CUMULATIVE COSTS (in US$)

6. MAP/PAP VIEWS AND CONSTRAINTS REGARDING THE PROCEDURE FOR THE CONSTITUTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EAM NETWORK

PAP/RAC is acting as an integral part of the Mediterranean Action plan (MAP), which represents a specific programme of cooperation of all Mediterranean coastal states and EC on the implementation of the Barcelona Convention. This cooperation is being implemented at governmental level. UNEP is acting as MAP secretariat. As a consequence of the above facts, PAP/RAC is expected to follow, in the preparation and implementation of its activities, MAP rules of procedure set up by the governments of the contracting parties, as well as administrative and financial rules and practices of UNEP. These have to be applied in the case of EAM Network too.

Respecting the above, the following principles and procedures for the constitution and implementation of the EAM Network are here presented for discussion and eventual amendments :

1. The Regional Activity Centre for the priority Actions programme of the Mediterranean Action plan (MAP-PAP/RAC), MEDRAP II and the Fisheries Department of the Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations(FAO/FT) will collaborate in the promotion of the network on Environment and Agriculture in the Mediterranean region, as a follow-up of the activities initiated by the UNDP/FAO project MEDRAP II in this field. The principles and modalities of cooperation will be set up through letters of Agreement to be signed following relevant decisions of the meetings quoted under (b). The starting point of this cooperation will be the hitherto results of MEDRAP II and deliberations of its relevant meeting, seminars and the steering Committee, as well as the conclusions of the MAP-PAP/MEDRAP II and MAP-PAP/FAO meeting on the constitution of EAM Network held in 1992 and 1993.

2. The EAM network programme and the PAP-related part of the budget for the 1994–95 biennium will be presented to and approved by the VIII ordinary conference of the contracting parties to the Barcelona Convention scheduled for 12–15 October 1993 in Antalya, Turkey. 1992.

   The MEDRAP II steering committee, at its meeting scheduled for October – November 1993 will consider and approve the EAM network programme and the MEDRAP II related part of the budget.

3. The purpose of Letters of Agreement to be signed is to formalize the organizational relationships and contributions, as related to the establishment and coordination of the EAM network, between MAP-PAP/RAC and MEDRAP II and MAP-PAP/RAC and FAO and , later on, with FAO alone for the time after the MEDRAP II project has ended. It is understood that the cooperation between MAP-PAP/RAC and FAO Fisheries Department in aquaculture and environment aspects in the Mediterranean region will continue on the basis of programmes to be agreed upon on biennial basis, if not decided otherwise. An annex to the basic LOA Will be signed for each following biennium.

4. The objective of the initial EAM network programme during 1993–1995 is (i) to establish and consolidate an operational and durable network, and (ii)to effectively address the most urgent environment-related needs and priorities for aquaculture development in the region, including the identification of: environmentally-problematic aquaculture practices; areas of high pollution hazard to aquaculture; suitable measures for environmental farm management and pollution mitigation; and appropriate interventions in aquaculture development planning and management.

5. The constitution of the EAM network will be implemented jointly by MEDRAP II and PAP/RAC, acknowledging the coordinative role of MAP-PAP/RAC as the EAM network centre and the EAM network programme activities to be implemented in 1993–1995. All countries in the Mediterranean region and their relevant national institutions will be invited to participate actively in the EAM network. Cooperation with and support from interested international organizations or agreements will be pursued, when appropriate.

   In order to constitute the Network, MEDRAP II and FAO will present a list of national institutions to be invited to join the EAM Network. MAP-PAP will inform the relevant PAP National Focal Points and after their clearance, invite the institutions to join the Network. The institutions will be invited to give information on their possible contribution to the Network, to nominate contact persons and confirm their obligations.

6. MEDRAP II will coordinate in full the EAM network activities for 1993. In 1994, MEDRAP and PAP will coordinate all network activities jointly and will be responsible each for their respective part of the programme.

   The EAM network activities in 1995 will be coordinated in full by MAP-PAP/RAC, with the assistance of the MEDRAP II project coordination centre. MAP-PAP/RAC will ensure the continuation of the EAM network activities after the termination of the MEDRAP II project.

   MAP-PAP/RAC will liaise and collaborate with the GFCM Secretariat and the GFCM sub-committee on Aquaculture. It will promote co-operation of the EAM network with other aquaculture networks including TECAM, SELAM AND SIPAM.

7. MAP-PAP/RAC will implement the EAM network programme for 1994–1995, fully supported by the MEDRAP II project coordination centre, and with the scientific and technical guidance of the respective units of the FAO Fisheries Department.

   During the joint implementation of the Network programme PAP/RAC and MEDRAP II will agree on programme activities to be administered and financed by each party, respecting the priorities set up by MEDRAP II, availability of respective funds and relevant terms of reference of each party. Such an approach will allow each party to respect its own rules of procedure and practices.

8. It is understood that the selection of consultant and institutions to implement various programme activities should be made in accordance with terms of reference for each activity, consultants' references, and recommendations by FAO and MEDRAP II, with a view to secure an even geographical representation of experts and institutions engaged.

9. The EAM network activities are described, in terms of their objectives, outputs, workplan and input requirements, in Chapter 5 respecting the priorities to be set up at the Seminar and at the forthcoming Meeting of MEDRAP II Steering Committee.

10. It is expected that the MEDRAP II project will provide funds for the EAM network activities in 1993, 1994 and, possibly, in 1995 (pending approval by MEDRAP II steering committee meeting to be held in October–November 1993). MAP-PAP/RAC will provide funds for the EAM network activities in 1994 and 1995.

    The amount of funds available from MAP-PAP/RAC sources would be: USD 60,000 per year (1994 and 1995), totaling USD 120,000 (pending approval of the VIII Ordinary Conference of the Contracting Parties).

    The amount of funds available from MEDRAP II project sources is: USD 54,000 (which includes USD 28,000 for the EAM constitution seminar) in 1993, and USD 50,000 in 1994 (PAP estimates based on point 8 of the Notes of the PAP/MEDRAP meeting held in split on 9–10 March 1993; to be confirmed by MEDRAP II) totaling USD 104,000.

    FAO contribution in kind is estimated at USD 50,000

    During 1993–1994 period PAP/RAC, MEDRAP II and FAO will jointly seek an additional support from donors for the implementation of the programme in 1995 and further.

11. MAP-PAP/RAC and MEDRAP II will be responsible for monitoring the progress of the EAM network activities to ensure that the EAM network programme be implemented in accordance with its objectives and workplans, and that the yearly progress reports be submitted, through the GFCM Secretariat, to members of the GFCM Sub-committee on Aquaculture and to the FAO Fisheries Department. These reports will be distributed to FAO and relevant national institutions and experts involved in the EAM network.

12. It is envisaged that technical documentation produced by major EAM network activities will be published as joint GFCM-MAP-PAP/RAC papers, possibly produced as MAP Technical Report Series, after technical review by MAP-PAP/RAC and FAO.