LIFE - GHOST project

Programme: LIFE PLUS 2012

Project Title: Techniques to reduce the impact of ghost fishing gears and to improve

biodiversity in North Adriatic coastal areas

Acronym: GHOST

Duration: 2013-2016

Total Budget : € 1.127.020

Web site: www.life-ghost.eu

Summary: The increasing frequency of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gears (ALDFG) at sea is having an increasing impact on coastal habitats. Concrete measures are necessary to recover and improve biodiversity, especially in habitats affected by fishing activities impacting the sea floor (e.g. trawling). The rocky habitats of the northern Adriatic are rich in biodiversity, making them an appropriate area for demonstrating restoration measures.

The general aims of the project include:

· Promoting concrete measures to restore and preserve the ecological status of the rocky habitats located in the northern Adriatic Sea;

· Assessing the impact of ALDFG on biodiversity in the rocky habitats along the coast of Veneto Region;

· Estimating the economic value of the ecosystem benefits resulting from the removal and/or reduction of ALDFG.

The expected results are:

· the enhancement of local biodiversity through the total removal of ALDFG from 20 areas (thus contributing to stop their ghost fishing);

· the restoration of natural habitat functions;

· an estimation of the economic value of ecosystem services, to provide useful insights for identifying and quantifying the economic benefits of ALDFG removal;

· a cost-benefit analysis useful in deciding whether to undertake retrieval operations or to use alternative management options;

· a technical protocol for the management of ALDFG in coastal marine areas, defining tools, equipment, procedures and guidelines for recovering different materials.

Contact person in ISMAR: luisa.daros@ismar.cnr.it

Partnership:

1) National Research Council – Institute of Marine Sciences (CNR/ISMAR) – Italy

2) University IUAV of Venice - Italy

3) Laguna Project s.n.c. - Italy