Aspects of Mussel-Farming Activity in Chalastra, Thermaikos Gulf, Greece: An Effort to Untie a Management Gordian Knot

Abstract

Small-scale mussel farming in the coastal area of Chalastra (Thermaikos Gulf, Greece) has faced major problems during the last decade due to environmental limitations and to institutional constraints imposed by the absence of local planning and development policies. The aim of our work was to demonstrate crucial aspects of implementing the Systems Approach Framework (SAF) in the area, and more specifically to explain: (a) the key parts of a bioeconomic model that constitutes the basis of a draft management tool, (b) the results of several investigative scenarios examined through the management tool, and (c) the stakeholders' feedback through the participative procedures. The goal was to evaluate the effects of the SAF implementation on the communication between scientists, policy makers, and local stakeholders. The scenarios refer to alternative farming techniques and different environmental conditions, and examine the effects of institutional deficiencies in qualitative and quantitative ways, regarding the sustainability of the activity. The selection of the scenarios was directed from the need to provide a dialogue platform between the conflicting stakeholders. The results clearly demonstrate the effects of mussel-farming techniques on mussel production, as well as the impacts of environmental conditions, human decisions, and institutional choices on the regional (and individual) economic welfare. In the bottom line, the value of the SAF is demonstrated through the apprehension of the policy issue, its impacts, and the alternative management perspectives, as well as through the establishment of a multidimensional collaboration group for the area, which is essential for the further development of the management tool and the implementation of an integrated management policy

Evolution Through Innovation in Aquaculture: A Critical Review of the Greek Mariculture Industry

“…One of the major problems facing Greek aquaculture was the lack (until 2011) of spatial coastal planning, which generated confusion over the use of space among competitive users such as tourism, coastal fisheries, and urbanization of the coastal zones (Kochras et al 2000;Zanou and Anagnostou 2001;Zanou et al 2005;Theodorou, Viaene, et al 2011;Konstantinou et al 2012). Due to the lack of spatial planning for aquaculture, subsidies of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) were not granted for 2010 and 2011.…”

Development and Use of a Bioeconomic Model for Management of Mussel Fisheries under Different Nutrient Regimes in the Temperate Estuary of the Limfjord, Denmark

“…For example, in Chesapeake Bay, illegal oyster harvesting is negatively impacting the ecosystem and negating attempts to restore oyster populations and their resilience (Bashore et al 2012). The SAF approach could be used to engage all stakeholders and demonstrate how local individuals could benefit from an integrated management tool based on explorative scenarios in a similar manner to those of Melaku Canu et al (2011) and Konstantinou et al (2012). The SAF approach (Hopkins et al 2011(Hopkins et al , 2012) provides a recognizable, transparent description of the real world and allows Ecology and Society 19(1): 14 http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol19/iss1/art14/ a better understanding of system complexity through bioeconomic model simulations.…”

“…With the SAF, large-scale clam farming in the Venice Lagoon could be more sustainable and could achieve social and economic benefits for the local community while reducing negative environmental impacts and social conflicts (Melaku Canu et al 2011). Similarly, small-scale mussel production in Thermaikos Gulf could be improved through stakeholder participation; their improved understanding of the integrated management tool was developed, which provided investigative scenarios (Konstantinou et al 2012). The combination of multidisciplinary science, stakeholder involvement, and the use of model scenarios makes the SAF approach very suitable to address policy issues that require multidisciplinary and holistic analysis and management strategies.…”

A Systems Approach Framework for the Transition to Sustainable Development: Potential Value Based on Coastal Experiments

“…The model simulations brought managers, scientists, and mussel farmers together for the first time to discuss model scenario results that quantified aspects of the mussel farming. The SAF thus provided a sound basis for dialog and evaluation of the consequences of different management options (Konstantinou et al 2012). …”

“…By analyzing the problems of the Chalastra mussel farmers with declining harvests, illegality, and environmental limitations, the study-site team helped them understand their situation and provided them with a tool to explore sustainable options for improving mussel production (Konstantinou et al 2012). …”