Kick off meeting, 22-23 February 2007, Salerno COBECOS Costs and Benefits of Control Strategies Italian case study: GSA 9 Ligurian and North Tirrenian

Kick off meeting, 22-23 February 2007, Salerno Kick off meeting, 22-23 February 2007, Salerno

COBECOSCOBECOS

Costs and Benefits of Control StrategiesCosts and Benefits of Control Strategies

Italian case study:GSA 9 Ligurian and North Tirrenian Sea

bottom trawling fishery

COBECOS kick off meeting, 22-23 February 2007, Salerno COBECOS kick off meeting, 22-23 February 2007, Salerno

The case study area: GSA 9, Ligurian and North The case study area: GSA 9, Ligurian and North Tirrenian SeaTirrenian Sea

GSA 9GSA 9


The case study fleet: bottom trawlers The case study fleet: bottom trawlers

RegionsRegions No. of vesselsNo. of vessels Average Average tonnagetonnage

Average LOAAverage LOA

LiguriaLiguria 8282 2929 1616

ToscanaToscana 138138 3131 1717

LazioLazio 139139 4646 2020

GSA 9GSA 9 359359 3737 1818

Source: IREPA, 2007


The case study fisheriesThe case study fisheries

• Demersal: Demersal: mullet, cuttlefish, mullet, cuttlefish, common octopus, horned and common octopus, horned and musky octopuses, squids, musky octopuses, squids, gurnard, sole, spottail mantis gurnard, sole, spottail mantis squillid, caramote prawn, squillid, caramote prawn, common Pandoracommon Pandora

• Deep water: Deep water: giant red shrimp, giant red shrimp, blue and red shrimp, European blue and red shrimp, European hake, Norway lobster, blue hake, Norway lobster, blue whiting, deepwater rose shrimp, whiting, deepwater rose shrimp, squids.squids.

• Mixed: all the above speciesMixed: all the above species

FisheriesFisheries No. of No. of vesselsvessels

DemersalDemersal 244244

Deep waterDeep water 6767

MixedMixed 4848

GSA 9GSA 9 359359


The case study management systemThe case study management system

Measures regulating bottom trawling in GSA 9 are the ones Measures regulating bottom trawling in GSA 9 are the ones applied at national level. In Italy, the trawling activity is applied at national level. In Italy, the trawling activity is managed trough a combination of input control and technical managed trough a combination of input control and technical measures, consisting in:measures, consisting in:

1.1.Input control measures:Input control measures:• fishing activity regulated by a closed license scheme;fishing activity regulated by a closed license scheme;• seasonal withdrawal of the fishing activity during certain seasonal withdrawal of the fishing activity during certain

period, generally in the summer months. period, generally in the summer months. • technical stop of the fishing activity on Saturday and technical stop of the fishing activity on Saturday and

Sunday.Sunday.

2.2.Technical measures:Technical measures:• minimum distance from the coast;minimum distance from the coast;• minimum mesh size;minimum mesh size;• minimum landing size for some target species.minimum landing size for some target species.


Input control measuresInput control measures

1.1. Effort control on trawlers is firstly pursued by limiting the Effort control on trawlers is firstly pursued by limiting the number of fishing licenses: number of fishing licenses: the number of licenses for the number of licenses for trawling cannot be increased on timetrawling cannot be increased on time. New licenses can . New licenses can be given only if the same number of licenses are withdrawn be given only if the same number of licenses are withdrawn (together with capacity);(together with capacity);

2.2. Seasonal withdrawal. It: Seasonal withdrawal. It: • is in force continuatively since 1988;is in force continuatively since 1988;• applies both to trawlers and to midwater pelagic nets;applies both to trawlers and to midwater pelagic nets;• its main aim is to safeguard the juveniles of demersal its main aim is to safeguard the juveniles of demersal

species during their spawning and recruitment seasons;species during their spawning and recruitment seasons;• each year the period for withdrawal is decided based on each year the period for withdrawal is decided based on

the scientific advice for the main target species for both the scientific advice for the main target species for both the fishing gears to which it applies; the fishing gears to which it applies;

• for GSA 9 and for the all Tyrrhenian trawlers the seasonal for GSA 9 and for the all Tyrrhenian trawlers the seasonal withdrawal has been compulsory until 1997, optional in withdrawal has been compulsory until 1997, optional in the years 1998-1999, compulsory again in 2000 and 2001 the years 1998-1999, compulsory again in 2000 and 2001 (only in some harbours) and again optional since 2002. (only in some harbours) and again optional since 2002.


Technical measures: mesh and distanceTechnical measures: mesh and distance

Since the beginning of 2007, the main reference of the Since the beginning of 2007, the main reference of the technical measures regulating the trawling fishery in GSA 9 is technical measures regulating the trawling fishery in GSA 9 is the EC Reg. no 1967/2006 which amends the EC Reg. no. the EC Reg. no 1967/2006 which amends the EC Reg. no. 2847/93, abrogates the EC Reg. 1626/1994 and establishes 2847/93, abrogates the EC Reg. 1626/1994 and establishes new management measures for the sustainable exploitation of new management measures for the sustainable exploitation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean Sea. fishery resources in the Mediterranean Sea.

As far as the trawling nets the above regulation establishes a As far as the trawling nets the above regulation establishes a set of technical rules that can be summarized in:set of technical rules that can be summarized in:1.1.minimum mesh size: minimum mesh size:

a) until 31.12.2007: >40 mm; a) until 31.12.2007: >40 mm; b) since 1.7.2008 the mesh can be 40 mm squared or b) since 1.7.2008 the mesh can be 40 mm squared or

50 mm rhomboidal.50 mm rhomboidal.2.2. fishing at distance < 1.5 nautic miles from the coast (until fishing at distance < 1.5 nautic miles from the coast (until 31.12.2007 trawling net can fish < 1.5 nautic miles but not < 31.12.2007 trawling net can fish < 1.5 nautic miles but not < 50 m isobath).50 m isobath).


Technical measures: landings sizeTechnical measures: landings size

• The EC Reg. no 1967/2006 also establishes the The EC Reg. no 1967/2006 also establishes the minimum size (and the way to measure it) of minimum size (and the way to measure it) of species landed (see Annex III of the above species landed (see Annex III of the above regulation).regulation).

• A number of species listed in the Annex III A number of species listed in the Annex III represent target species of the bottom trawling represent target species of the bottom trawling fishery in GSA 9.fishery in GSA 9.


Technical measures: derogation and prorogationTechnical measures: derogation and prorogation

DerogationDerogation: rules on minimum distance do not apply if specific : rules on minimum distance do not apply if specific conditions are verified (i.e. limited extension of the overall conditions are verified (i.e. limited extension of the overall coastal platform or limited extension of the trawling areas). coastal platform or limited extension of the trawling areas).

ProrogationProrogation: rules on minimum mesh size and minimum : rules on minimum mesh size and minimum distance do not apply until May 2010. In order to apply for distance do not apply until May 2010. In order to apply for prorogation vessels and gears should comply with the national prorogation vessels and gears should comply with the national legislation in force at 1 January 1994. legislation in force at 1 January 1994.

Current rulesCurrent rules: national legislation (DPR no. 1639/68) that : national legislation (DPR no. 1639/68) that establishes, for trawling nets:establishes, for trawling nets:

1.1. a minimum mesh size of 40 mm;a minimum mesh size of 40 mm;

2.2. a minimum depth not < 50 m within the 3 nautical miles a minimum depth not < 50 m within the 3 nautical miles zone.zone.


The case study enforcement systemThe case study enforcement system

• The main body responsible for the control on the fishery sector is The main body responsible for the control on the fishery sector is the “Guardia Costiera” .the “Guardia Costiera” .

• Other military corps (Carabinieri, Guardi di Finanza, Polizia, etc..) Other military corps (Carabinieri, Guardi di Finanza, Polizia, etc..) have a subsidiary responsibility in the fishery control.have a subsidiary responsibility in the fishery control.

• Even if the coordination among all these corps is ruled by law, in Even if the coordination among all these corps is ruled by law, in practice it is not very effective: the flow of data on inspections, practice it is not very effective: the flow of data on inspections, infringements and sanctions among them is not systematic. infringements and sanctions among them is not systematic.

• Five methods of inspections are applied to the Italian fishery Five methods of inspections are applied to the Italian fishery sector: at sea (on board), flight inspections, on land and at the sector: at sea (on board), flight inspections, on land and at the selling places (markets and restaurants). selling places (markets and restaurants).

• The inspection reports do not describe in very detail the type of The inspection reports do not describe in very detail the type of elementary control made.elementary control made.

• A national databank containing all the inspection reports does not A national databank containing all the inspection reports does not exist. exist.

• Hence, the collection of enforcement data (concerning the Hence, the collection of enforcement data (concerning the enforcement intensity and the associated costs destined to each enforcement intensity and the associated costs destined to each single measure) for the Italian case study will be a very hard and single measure) for the Italian case study will be a very hard and not always possible task. not always possible task.


Thanks for the attention!Thanks for the attention!

Loretta Malvarosa Loretta Malvarosa IREPA OnlusIREPA Onlus

[email protected]@irepa.org

Documents

Kick off meeting, 22-23 February 2007, Salerno COBECOS Costs and Benefits of Control Strategies Italian case study: GSA 9 Ligurian and North Tirrenian