Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
The SPICOSA Project
About SPICOSA
The Integrated Project SPICOSA, funded by the EU´s Sixth Framework Programme, took off in February 2007 with the aim to develop and test a self-evolving, operational research approach framework for the assessment of policy options for the sustainable management of coastal zone systems. It is therefore of high relevance to Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and other related European policies.
To achieve this, 54 partners from 21 countries have joined to produce a Systems Approach Framework (SAF), and other tools, to apply a ‘systems approach’ to coastal zone science. Key to this approach is the science-policy integration to improve and enhance closer and effective integration and common deliberation over coastal issues. The project had the ambition to guide and support European coastal policy-makers by providing them with means to understand the effects of their policies – the SAF.
The tools developed by SPICOSA have been tested at 18 different Study Sites across Europe, each with their own identified ‘key issue’.
The target was to assist Europe in its goal of achieving Sustainable Development by the formulation of a conceptual methodological framework for this transition in coastal zones. The SPICOSA initiative originated from the fact that coastal systems are under increasing human pressure and policy has not been able to respond properly to the resulting negative impacts on ecological, social and economic systems. As a consequence, we have realized that more innovative effort was needed to treat the coastal zone as an integral functioning system (the CZ System), to focus more on how to provide prognostic information or this integrated system, and to improve the ways in which research information about this is utilized for decision making, The SPICOSA working hypothesis was that our present approach to managing our CZ resource needs a much improved, interactive link between the best interests of the natural-resource system and the society that benefits from it.
The outcomes of this effort are now summarized in the Systems Approach Framework Handbook that can be accessed through http://www.coastal-saf.eu/
Thermaikos study site application
The Study Site Application in Thermaikos Gulf, Greece, was focused in the sustainable development of the mussel farming activity in Chalastra area, Thermaikos gulf.
The coastal area of Chalastra is located at NW side of the inner Thermaikos, 20 km NW of the city of Thessaloniki, at the delta of Axios, Loudias and Aliakmon rivers. Chalastra is a small area of 1.35 km2, protected under the Ramsar Convention as part of the deltaic system. The coast is bordered by an agricultural area, and in the broader area there is also some small-scale industrial activity.
The main marine activity in Chalastra is intensive mussel-farming of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Local mussel production is one of the most important in Greece, producing approximately 30% of the total national production. The activity is family-based, providing employment to a significant part of the local population, both directly and through associated activities. Two cultivation systems are used in the area: (1) large area, long-line type cultivation, and (2) small area, pole type cultivation. The local farmers use the pole type cultivation mainly to support the long-line type.
During the last decade, a significant reduction of the quality and quantity of the mussel production is observed in the area. Additionally a significant increase of Harmful Algal Bloom events’ duration is causing severe selling restrictions and thus is amplifying the pressure on the activity.
When the implementation of the SAF initiated in the area of Chalastra, the scientific focus was mainly placed on the environmental issues related to the sustainability of mussel production. Yet, following the SAF and through the interaction with the local stakeholders it was soon revealed that the main problems of the area were utterly related to the deficiencies in governance and regulation, transforming it to an issue of jurisdictional conflict.
More information regarding the implementation of the SAF in the area can be accessed at the project webpage.
In order to assist the process of participatory management in the integrated context of the SAF, a management tool was developed for the area of Chalastra, capable of examining alternative scenarios. The tool is under constant development yet the draft version can be accessed through: http://dataportals.pangaea.de/spicosa/SPICOSA_model_library.html.
Research projects
Science and Policy Integration for Coastal System Assessment - SPICOSA | SAA 16: Thermaikos Gulf
Related publications