The Relevance of the Implementation of AZA According to the Principles and Standards of GFCM Guidelines in the Site Selection Process for Sustainable Development of Aquaculture: Montenegro Case Study

Abstract

Marine aquaculture is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, with a long-term growing trend and wide opportunities for the development and dissemination of production. It is clear that seafood production is the future of the marine fisheries sector, especially in terms of preserving existing fish resources, repopulation and conservation of endangered species, developing innovations in breeding technologies, and supplying the market with quality farmed food throughout the year. In order to define the new mariculture zones that can be used for the production process, it is necessary to meet special conditions, among which the most important are the environmental, administrative, and socio-economic. There are numerous papers dealing with the issue of determining suitable zones for aquaculture, but certainly one of the most important principles to be followed in the selection of zones is the concept of AZA (Allocated Zones for Aquaculture) which was adopted as a specific resolution of the General Fisheries Commission of the Mediterranean (GFCM) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Montenegro has accepted these recommendations and started a detailed analysis of new, potentially suitable areas for the development of marine aquaculture in the zone of the Boka Kotorska Bay which is under the influence of the waters of the open sea. In order to comply with the rules and recommendations implied by the AZA principle, detailed research of environmental parameters was conducted in accordance with the selected indicators implemented within the project on “Indicators for Sustainable Development of Aquaculture and Guidelines for their use in the Mediterranean” (InDAM project). As a precondition for the application of the AZA principle, a pilot study was conducted during 2013 on the identification of indicators for sustainable aquaculture in Montenegro (Indicators and AZA identification) with the participation of researchers, decision-makers, and professionals involved in the aquaculture sector in Montenegro, during which consideration was also made on the economic and social aspects. This paper aims to (1) present the process of work and application of AZA principles in Montenegro (2) present the results of numerous environmental analyses conducted on the open sea of the Montenegrin coast, and (3) be an example of good practice in knowledge transfer in the field of aquaculture at the Mediterranean level.