More than 150 people attended the five ArtReefs Blue Innovations Labs about recreational artificial reefs for Blue Growth in the Mediterranean and Black Sea.
Organized in Bulgaria, France, Italy and Spain during November and December 2017, the events were highly participative and served to explain the results of the ArtReefs EU project.
Around 150 participants represented companies, maritime authorities, public administrations, reef managers, universities, tourism operators, neighbor associations, NGOs, fisheries and aquaculture, divers, marinas and recreational fishing clubs. This demonstrated growing interest, as illustrated by a growing number of real projects aiming to serve the environment, as well as communities and business thanks to multi-user models.
Debate was most lively about gaps and challenges related to regulation, licensing and management. Also, the lack of basic economic and environmental data at local level to clarify if such structures can sustain sufficient incomes and services, something instrumental for social support and to mobilise investment. The exchanges also allowed to identify some necessary actions:
- comparable surveys to analyse the economic impact of existing recreational reefs;
- effective and viable compensatory measures to finance the management of artificial reefs;
- more clarity and convergence of the different regulations at national level to help SMEs and administrations understand requirements along the process, and to improve coherence at international level;
- raise awareness about sustainable coastal planning and potential opportunities related to artificial reefs, promoting best practice;
- better quantifying environmental and economic services and interactions to help integrate artificial reefs in regional planning of sustainable development and branding strategies.
SAVE THE DATE – 12th June 2018
A final match-making and brokerage event specific for artificial reef stakeholders in the Mediterranean and Black sea will be held in Pescara, Italy.
This event will be a unique opportunity to network and promote new projects and partnerships between destinations and stakeholders at international level.
Please check www.artreefs.eu for practical deliverables produced till now, and don’t hesitate to contact info@artreefs.eu about any issues related to multi-purpose artificial reefs.
If you are interested in developing tourist packages including artificial reefs, a new guide is now available.
If you’d like to join or stay informed about the Public-Private Partnership to promote sustainable Artificial Reefs in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, please Endorse the initiative.
Please check www.artreefs.eu for more information on issues related to multi-purpose artificial reefs.
Project manager: Mr. Luis LOZANO llg@innogatetoeurope.eu