Aquaculture Spatial Planning:The case of Greece

Nikos AnagnopoulosPresident and Managing Director

2, Mnisikleous Str., 105 56 Athens, GREECETelephone: +30-210.32 29 303 &  +30-210.32 29 340, Fax: +30-210.32 29 304 Email: apc@apc.gr, URL: www.apc.gr

MARITIME SPATIAL PLANNING and INTEGRATED COASTAL MANAGEMENT

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A public process for analysing and planning the spatial and temporal distribution of human activities in sea

areas to achieve economic, environmental and social objectives.

(E.C. Directive – proposal under discussion)

Aim

Drawing plans to identify the utilisation of maritime space for different sea uses.

MARITIME SPATIAL PLANNING and INTEGRATED COASTAL MANAGEMENT

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Purpose: Promotion of sustainable growth of maritime and coastal activities and the sustainable use of coastal and marine resources.

Consistency with other policies: Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Renewable Energy Directive, Motorways of the Sea initiative, Habitats Directive etc.

Benefits of maritime spatial planning:

• Reduction of conflicts between sectors (creation of synergies).

•Encouraging investment through predictability, transparency and clearer

rules.

•Increase of coordination between administrations in each country.

•Increase of cross-border cooperation between EU countries.

•Protection of the environment through identification of impact and

opportunities for multiple use of space.

MARITIME SPATIAL PLANNING and INTEGRATED COASTAL MANAGEMENT

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High and Rapidly increasing demand for maritime space for purposes such as:•Renewable energy installations•Maritime shipping and fishing activities•Ecosystem conservation•Tourism installations•Aquaculture installations•Multiple pressures on coastal resources

Objectives of maritime spatial plans and integrated coastal management strategies, among others, shall foster the sustainable development and growth of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, including employment in fisheries / aquaculture and connected sectors.

THE CASE OF GREECE

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The last 25 years, aquaculture has become one of the most important productive sectors in the country with around 800 units

of marine aquaculture (300 fish and 500 mussels) and 120 Freshwater units. Mariculture offers 120.000 tn/year, having more

than 40% of the European market share.

Factors that led to the need for Aquaculture Spatial PlanningThe lack of Maritime Spatial Planning and National Planning for different sectoral activitiesThe scale of production and the territorial expansion of the activity (mainly in coastal zone and close to coastline)The existing Aquaculture activity referred only in local level spatial planning (General Urban Plan, Open City Spatial and Housing Organization Plan)The reactions of local population in certain areas.The cancellation by the C.o.S. of licenses of some units, due to the luck of a spatial planning (national, regional or sectoral).

TOWARDS THE G.A.S.P.

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• From early 2000, the F.G.M. (joined later by PAN.U.S.ME.A.E.) lobbied the

Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and

Food towards the implementation of an Aquaculture Spatial Planning.

• In 2007, the University of Crete released the study “The effects of aquaculture in

the marine environment and adaptation of the production capacity to the

environmental characteristics of marine ecosystems”.

• In 2009, the M.E. and M.A.R.D.F. came to an agreement on the contents of a

supporting study for the Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development of Greek

Aquaculture, financed by F.G.M. / PAN.U.S.ME.A.E.

• By November 2011, the contents have been finalised and the 31722/04-11-2011

Ministerial Decision “Approval of a Special Spatial Planning Framework and

Sustainable Development for Aquaculture and its strategic environmental

impacts assessment” was published.

OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF SPATIAL PLANNING and SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

of GREEK AQUACULTURE

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•The Framework regulates aquaculture spatially, both at sea and inland waters.•It covers all aquatic organisms (animals and plants) with economic interest.•The largest part is referred to marine aquaculture, as it is the sector with the need for spatial regulation

Purpose:

To record, clarify and serve the basic spatial needs of aquaculture units in a way that their operation does not conflict with the development of other activities and not degrade the environment irreparably.

CONTENT OF SPATIAL PLANNING and SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT of GREEK

AQUACULTURE

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The first part of the framework describes the basic types of aquacultures and the necessary infrastructure for each one.

The types are:•Sea fish farms•Shellfish farming•Freshwater fish farms•Extensive or semi-intensive farming of marine organisms in lagoons and other water bodies

The infrastructure necessary for their function and definitions of those that can be installed on the coastline.

Infrastructure on the coastline

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1. Docking facilities

2. Seawater pumping system (e.g. drillings) and water drainage

3. Routing system for foods (silo, pipes etc.)

4. Storehouses

5. Guardhouse

6. Spaces for storing the nets

7. Incinerator

8. Staff rooms

9. Access road and space for vehicle movement

10. Facilities for the transshipment of shellfish from boat to refrigerator truck

SPATIAL PLANNING and SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT of GREEK AQUACULTURE

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The Framework prescribes a zoning system for organizing aquacultures. However, it’s permitted, in some cases, to install single units.

Aquaculture Development Areas (A.D.A.)Marine aquaculture activities develops in wider sea areas, with common

characteristics, which on spatial terms constitute broader areas for receptors (ZONES for ORGANIZED DEVELOPMENT of AQUACULTURE–Z.O.D.A. – in A.D.A. Categories A, B, C, D) and single units operating (in A.D.A. Category E).

Outside A.D.A., the installation of single units is permitted only in the following cases:

• Pilot units under special requirements• Combined planning of touristic facilities or diving parks with (small

capacity) aquaculture units in the context of agrotourism.• Uninhabited islands mainly close to the borders, remote areas.

Map of the Spatial Planning Framework and Sustainable Development for Aquaculture

(A.D.A.)

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A.D.A.

INSTALLATION OF Z.O.D.A. WITHIN A.D.A.

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A.D.A. Α.4.2

Z.O.D.A.

Aquaculture Development Areas (A.D.A.)

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CATEGORIESA. Areas with highly developed aquaculture activity, having need of

interventions for improvement, upgrading of units and their infrastructure and for protecting and enhancing the environment

B. Areas with significant prospect for further aquaculture development

C. Remote and islands areas with high potential for development

D. Areas with great sensitivity of their natural environment, protected marine areas

E. Areas with special features that are not in favor for concentration of aquaculture units (inaccessible, small islands, urban and tourist etc).

ZONES for ORGANIZED DEVELOPMENT of AQUACULTURE activities (Z.O.D.A.)

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• Organized preceptors provided by article 10, Law 2742/1999

• The existence of a Management Body is a prerequisite for the creation and approval of the zone.

• The total leased area for units installation, regardless of farmed species, is at least 100 acres / 10 ha.

AREAS of INFORMAL CONCENTRATION OF UNITS• Transitory state before the establishment of Z.O.D.A.

• At concentrations of up to 5 units, whose total leased area is a maximum of 10 ha and having a distance of 500m to 2 km between them.

• At first and for a period of 5 years, they are considered as the Z.O.D.A. of Operational Program for Fisheries or the areas identified in the Regional Spatial Planning.

INDIVIDUAL UNIT Unit within or outside A.D.A. for which in each case, apply special conditions regarding the

size, capacity and distance from other units, the boundaries of Z.O.D.A. or the nearest single unit.

Guidelines for regulations and terms for installation of receptors and single units

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A. Conditions necessary for the installation of marine aquaculture - List of basic criteria, both for coastal and land-based facilities.

B. Procedure for establishing Z.O.D.A.1. Studies for the Z.O.D.A. (new or updated)2. Establishment of a Management Body3. Restoration of land and marine environment4. Presidential decree

C. Permitted facilities (Conjunctive and support onshore facilities)

D. Motives

Criteria and compatibilities for establishing receptors & single units of aquacultures

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The boundaries of the leased marine area should be spaced:

• One thousand (1,000) meters at least, from a functioning touristic facility and existing residential developments (or 500 meters as long as there is no visual contact)

• One thousand (1000) meters at least, from incompatible uses (industrial plants, mining facilities, etc.).

• One thousand (1000) meters from harboring facilities, handling oil or industrial units presenting serious risks for marine pollution.

• Five hundred (500) meters at least, from diving parks (with the exception of combined use) and beaches designated for swimming in close proximity to touristic facilities or residential areas.

• Two (2) nautical miles from airports that are on the coastline

• Wind farms should be avoided within Z.O.D.A. In different cases, they should be at a distance of 500 meters from operational units. Energy production from Renweable Energy Sources for the needs of Z.O.D.A. or individual units is encouraged.

• 50 meters from professional fishing activity, with the exception of an agreement between the 2 parties.

Criteria for marine aquaculture units

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• The depth of the sea should be at least 18 meters and in each case, double from the depth of the biggest nets used at the cages.

• The distance between two neighboring units should be at least 500 meters (or 300 if both of them are units of biological fish farming).

• The distance between farming parks of the same unit, should be more than 100 and less than 250 meters.

• The maximum percentage for coverage of the leased area, from floating infrastructure, should be 50% (up to 60% in case of biological fish farms).

• The limits of the leased area should be at least 50 meters from the coastline.

• Velocity of currents.

Prohibitions for marine aquaculture units• In areas used as military areas, navigation channels or cables structures or pipes for energy

transfer etc.

• In areas where the sea bed is covered by protected species (Posidonia oceanica, Cymodocea nodosa, Zostera marina and Zostera moltii) or species under restrictions defined by EU and national legislation.

Supplementary guidance of ASP over environmental protection

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• Creation of a monitoring system over the degree of implementation and efficiency of ASP and evaluation of the effects of aquaculture to the environment, under which there should be a systematic monitoring of coastal aquatic ecosystems, in order to have a trustworthy data time series.

• Creation of efficient control mechanisms for the monitoring of environmental degradation from aquaculture units, as well as for monitoring the implementation of the recommendations made by the auditors (Environmental Impact Assessment).

INVOLVMENT OF APC IN SPATIAL PLANNING and SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT of GREEK

AQUACULTURE

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Preparation of the Supporting Study, for the Spatial Planning and

Sustainable Development of Greek Aquaculture (F.G.M., Ministry for

Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works).

Studies for the determination of Zones of Organized Development of

Aquaculture (Z.O.D.A.) in several Prefectures of Greece (Peloponnese,

Thesprotia, South Evoikos, Echinades Islands, South and North

Aegean).

Study for the Management Body of the Evia A.D.A.

INVOLVEMENT OF A.P.C. IN THE IMPLEMETATION OF M.S.F.D. IN GREECE

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In parallel:

Technical Advisor of the Special Secretariat for Water (Ministry of

Environment, Energy and Climate Change) for the implementation of

Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC).

A.P.C. is directly involved in designing the monitoring system required by

M.S.F.D. With the combined use of the W.F.D. monitoring, the need for

monitoring deriving from the Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development

of Greek Aquaculture, could be covered.

CONCLUSION

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•Aquaculture Spatial Planning is of great economic significance and should

be part of Maritime Spatial Planning.

•Creation of a common spatial planning throughout the E.U., encourages

cross – border cooperation, as all the countries are under the same

regulations and comprehend each others practices.

•Promotion of cross – sector cooperation (such us tourism, renewable

energy sources, fisheries etc) – reduction of conflicts

•The M.S.P. will pinpoint the best qualified areas in terms of environmental

adequacy, access etc in relation to other activities

•Common and simpler licensing of production units will encourage

investment.

•Integrated environmental monitoring system for all of the E.U. countries.