Page 42 - FAO Aquaculture News, May 2021 - No. 63

Development of a Management Plan for the

Lagoon of Bizerte in Tunisia

quaculture in the Mediterranean Sea represents The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean
Aa key sector to increase fresh and marine protein (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
production. Growing demand for fish and fishery products, United Nations has been actively supporting national
coupled with the quick development of new aquaculture capacity development towards AZA implementation. In
technology, stimulates the use of marine and coastal space this context, technical support was provided to Tunisia
to develop the sector. The coastal lagoon of Bizerte, with and neighbouring Mediterranean countries. Special
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a surface area of 150 km , is located in the northwest of attention was paid to the use of tailored models according
Tunisia. The water exchange of the lagoon is essentially to the specific needs of national stakeholders. Aquaculture Updates by Region
ensured by the Mediterranean Sea, Lake Ichkeul
(biosphere reserve, natural world heritage and Ramsar A joint effort
site), and water inputs from the Bizerte hydrological In collaboration with the FAO Subregional Office for
basin. Characterized by high biological productivity, this North Africa in Tunisia, the Ministry of Agriculture,
lagoon acts as nursery for several marine species, as well Water Resources and Fisheries and the University of
as a maturation site of adults and feeding area for many Alicante (Spain), the GFCM launched a set of activities to
high-value species (for example European eel, seabass and identify suitable zones for aquaculture. Necessary funds
seabream). were mobilized by the GFCM in order to evaluate the
lagoon’s carrying capacity with the aim of proposing AZAs
Although the Bizerte lagoon has a strong fishery and bivalve for shellfish.
aquaculture tradition, the economy of the region is mainly
based on industrial activities (for example oil refining, In the same context, the FAO Subregional Office for North
steel and cement production) and agriculture. Therefore, Africa has launched a Technical Cooperation Programme
urbanization and nearby industrial factories alongside the (TCP) titled “Elaboration of a management plan for the
high concentration of agriculture around the whole lagoon Bizerte lagoon in Tunisia for territorial socio-economic
induce eutrophication and environmental degradation. development”, in response to the Tunisian Government’s
Furthermore, the absence of a coastal development plan request. This new project, along with GFCM planned
has generated increasing conflicts between mussel/oyster activities, will effectively contribute to improving the
farmers and artisanal fishers. management of this waterbody through a better definition
of spatial use of the several economic activities running in
As natural biofilters, shellfish provide great benefits to the and around the lagoon.
lagoon environment, such as water purification and act
as indicators of water quality. The implementation of this Allocated zones for aquaculture
type of culture in water basins with a high eutrophic load An allocated zone for aquaculture is a suitable area for
is key to mitigate the negative effects of excess nutrients aquaculture development, where the activity has priority
(especially harmful algal blooms, increase in opportunistic over other sectors and users. AZAs are identified through
species and turbidity). a zoning process within marine spatial planning, which is
based on a participatory approach. In this way, the zoning
Identification of allocated zones for aquaculture (AZAs) process incorporates environmental, socio-economic and
is considered an essential step towards the sustainable administrative parameters and involves the coordination
development of aquaculture, under a blue growth perspective, among different stakeholders. Besides the implementation
and thus has a special role to play in marine spatial planning. of AZAs, the management plan and environmental
monitoring programme contribute to minimizing conflicts
Written by: between coastal users while supporting the generation
Raquel Lopez Martinez of employment opportunities, greater food security and
E-mail: Raquel.LopezMartinez@fao.org enhancing aquaculture social acceptability.
Linda Fourdain
E-mail: Linda.Fourdain@fao.org Looking ahead
General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, The activities launched by the GFCM aim at improving
Rome, Italy the management of the Bizerte lagoon. Furthermore,
Asma Jlassi the implementation of AZAs for shellfish farming and
E-mail: Asma.Jlassi@fao.org the estimation of the carrying capacity facilitate the
Valerio Crespi selection of the most suitable sites through a participatory
E-mail: Valerio.Crespi@fao.org approach while taking into full consideration social and
FAO Subregional Office for North Africa, Tunis, Tunisia
environmental criteria.

FAO AQUACULTURE NEWS – Nº. 63 ■ MAY 2021 41