(ANSAmed) - BARI, MARCH 16 - Cooperation in the
Mediterranean basin between Europe's protected fishing zones and
those of other countries will be discussed at a meeting of
'MedPAN Nord', which will be taking place in the fishing reserve
of Torre Guaceto, Apulia, from tomorrow until Sunday. The
meeting will be based on themes of common interest such as
conservation, exploitations, sustainable fisheries and
sustainable tourism and will enable delegates from traditional
small-scale fishing and from conservation to exchange their
experience.
'MedPAN Nord' is a collection of twelve partners from six
different countries (France, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Spain and
Malta). Over the two days, the 50 attendees will discuss themes
around the 'Mediterranean - Traditional Fishers in the protected
marine areas'. There will be discussion of the role played by
fishers in management of the protected areas, of competition
from other forms of fishing and of the contribution that
traditional fishing can make to local cultural and economic
heritage, ranging to fishing tourism. There will also be a
presentation of the new Mediterranean Traditional Fishing
Platform: an association of fishers who wish to contribute to
saving the resource on which their livlihoods depend despite the
fact that the EU does not recognise this function of traditional
fisheries. Supporting their stance, a study conducted by the
National Geographic Society on protected marine areas shows that
good management can increase their yields by factor of between 5
and 10.
The effect of protection is the repopulation of prized
species, leading to a surplus of fish that, once outside the
zone, can be 'harvested' by fishers without depleting the
protected asset. This effect has been seen in the Torre Guaceto
reserve, where fishing in the area around the zone has seen
yields trebled after just 5 years of suspension of fishing. The
meeting has been promoted by the 'MedPAN nord', Parco Port Cros,
Riserva di Torre Guaceto, WWF and Federparchi projects.
(ANSAmed).
(ANSAmed).
