PREPARATION OF THIS DOCUMENT Mediterranean coastal lagoons

This publication has been prepared within the project “LaMed – Strengthening cooperation on fisheries and aquaculture management in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea” implemented by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) in 2011–2012 and funded by the Directorate General for Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies (MiPAAF). The LaMed project was divided into two components:

• Component 1. Fisheries laws and regulations in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea
• Component 2. Mediterranean coastal lagoons management: interactions between aquaculture and capture fisheries

In particular, component 2 was designed and developed within the overall context of integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) and ecosystem approach from an aquaculture perspective. The main objective of this component was to explore issues related to the sustainable use of coastal lagoons in the Mediterranean area, taking into consideration the ecological features and intrinsic fragility of lagoon ecosystems and the variety of management strategies applied in different countries and at different times.

The goal was to gather elements for the development of a sustainable management strategy, also through the preparation of guidelines to be translated in a Mediterranean action plan for coastal lagoons management, within the framework of the GFCM objectives and mandate. This document represents the main outcome of the project and offers a comprehensive – although not exhaustive – review aimed at providing background information and technical support to administrators, managers and decision-makers.