In less than 30 years, intensive fish farming has become the main provider of marine farmed products. Yet, extensive and semi-intensive systems1 still represent significant amounts of production and use large places along the southern Europe coastal zones. These include confined areas of coastal lagoons, natural and managed deltas, and semi closed bays and estuaries, encompassing polders with earthen ponds. The farming systems studied are aquaculture stricto sensu and capture fisheries of cultivated species.

This study has been carried out with the financial support from the Commission of the European Communities, specific RTD programme “Specific Support to Policies”, SSP-2005-44483 “SEACASE - Sustainable extensive and semi-intensive coastal aquaculture in Southern Europe”, and does not necessarily reflect the European Commission views and in no way anticipates the Commission’s future policy in this area.

Peer reviewed