The sea as a bridge between shores

The Adriatic sea represents the environmental, social and cultural element bridging the eastern and western shores of the area. Nowadays, the richness of natural resources characterizing the Adriatic sea is endangered by man-made factors that are threatening the vitality of the ecosystems. Fishing and aquaculture activities are recognized among those mostly impacting on the sea ecosystems. Indiscriminate fishing and income-driven aquaculture led in recent times to a progressive reduction of marine stocks and destruction of natural habitats, causing also economic and social negative effects on coastal communities and other economic sectors (especially tourism).

EU fishery policy addresses these issues, however the solely national application of such policies and the contemporary sharing of common natural resources with non-EU countries did not allow to achieve the EU goals of environment protection. The project intends to provide long-lasting responses to such problems, promoting the improvement of the sea and coastal ecosystems by proposing models for a coordinated fishery management pairing with direct actions for improving fisheries sustainability and strengthening the marine biodiversity.

The project will trigger a virtuous process of sustainable development and competitiveness of the coastal communities depending from fishery, in a common cross-border framework of economic, social and territorial cohesion along the Adriatic sea. The partnership proposing ECO.SEA comes from those Adriatic countries (Italy, Croatia, Albania) in which fishery is most relevant, consequently with a higher potential of mitigating fishery effects. Partners are institutionally and technically competent in their countries for the implementation of project.

ADRIATIC IS A SEMI-CLOSED SEA
Protecting the fish species living in the Adriatic Sea is very important for stemming the gradual impoverishment of its fragile ecosystem.

WHY?
- Because fishing is not always carried out in a sustainable manner
- Because the overfishing threatens the balance of the marine ecosystem  
- Because, at present, the Adriatic Countries and the fishing operators do not share a common set of rules

WHAT CAN WE DO?
We could develop a common protocol in order to
- manage the fish resources
- respect the nurseries
- safeguard the seasonal reproduction of the species
- use sustainable fishing systems.

…moreover we can buy fish according to the season and not following the consumption habits dictated by the market.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?
The marine ecosystem is safeguarded
The biodiversity increases
The economy of the coastal community improves.

LET US COMMIT OURSELVES TO CONNECT GOOD POLITICS, RESEARCHES, FISHERMEN AND CONSUMERS!

ECOSEA is a project aimed at coordinating and promoting the good practices in the management of the Adriatic Sea resources.

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