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Biodiversity and Sustainable Development in the Strait of Sicily (BIODIVALUE)
Start date: Jul 23, 2012, End date: Jan 22, 2015 PROJECT  FINISHED 

The project idea is to create operational tools to support local administrators and operators of maritime traffic, useful to limit the harmful effects of operating pollution generated by shipping industrial, commercial, recreational fishing and the Strait of Sicily. These instruments, including a system for measuring biophysical risk of loss of biodiversity of the Strait of Sicily and economic evaluation of the consequences caused to coastal communities, can better support the port authorities and other competent bodies, in a more balanced and aware of pollution from shipping, in accordance with the provisions of international conventions, the EU directives and their national legislation by the Italian and Maltese and to reconcile the interests of the smooth operation of maritime transport with the protection of the environment.Il progetto si propone di creare gli strumenti operativi a supporto di amministratori locali e operatori del traffico marittimo, utili a limitare gli effetti nocivi generati dall'inquinamento operativo da traffico marittimo industriale, commerciale, peschereccio e da diporto dello stretto di Sicilia. Tali strumenti, segnatamente un sistema di misurazione biofisico del rischio di perdita di biodiversità dello stretto di Sicilia e di valutazione economica delle conseguenze causate alle comunità rivierasche, potranno meglio supportare le autorità portuali e altri organi competenti, in una gestione più equilibrata e consapevole del traffico marittimo, in ottemperanza a quanto previsto dalle convenzioni internazionali, dalle direttive comunitarie e dalle rispettive normative nazionali italiane e maltesi e conciliare, quindi, gli interessi di un funzionamento fluido del trasporto marittimo con la tutela dell'ambiente. Achievements: The Project BioDiValue mainly aimed at developing data and operative instruments of support for local authorities and industry operators who intend to limit detrimental effects of pollution deriving from industrial, commercial, recreational and fishery maritime traffics in the Straits of Sicily.The instruments realized by the Project, particularly are i) a system of biophysical measurement of risk of biodiversity loss in the Straits of Sicily, and ii) a method of economical evaluation of the consequences caused by that loss at expense of interested communities; these instruments might support decisional and operational processes that should be carried out by port authorities and other competent organisms to ensure a more balanced and conscious management of maritime traffic pollution, in compliance with international conventions, EC directives and Maltese and Italian national regulations.For this purpose, several activities of study and analysis of maritime traffic in the Straits of Sicily, of pollution deriving from it, and the biophysical consequences on flora, fauna and atmosphere have been carried out.An economical evaluation of negative impacts on marine coastal ecosystems and ecosystem services of the Straits of Sicily was also carried out.Finally, indications of possible management choices on the basis of already realized procedures in other European contexts by other subjects have been furnished.The specific role of ISPRA, carried out by the Techno-Scientific Institute of Palermo, was that of evaluating potential effects of maritime traffic on different components of the coastal marine system and on biodiversity, analyzing organic and inorganic pollutants in sediments and their correlation with biological diversity of associated organisms. Marine non indigenous species were also considered, describing potential pathways and interactions with the marine environment and with anthropic activities.
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