tisanal fisheries continue to have a presence in the Mediterrane- an, although their socio-economic significance varies between countries and communities. In some regions, they represent an important source of income and food security.
Artisanal fisheries are believed to have a smaller impact on bio- diversity than does industrial fishing because they tend to use lower-impact gear. Because of the wide variety of gear types and target species, however, it is difficult to determine the ecosystem effects of artisanal fisheries (UNEP/MAP 2012). At the same time, artisanal fisheries themselves can be negatively impacted by other stressors, such as pollution and the loss of important habitat.
Aquaculture is the fastest growing food sector in the world, with about one-third of global fish consumption coming from farmed fish. Although the Mediterranean region has a long history of fish farming, aquaculture and particularly mariculture have un- dergone a dramatic expansion since the 1990s. Decreasing wild fish stocks, combined with increasing consumer demand for fish, have spurred the growth of the industry. Of particular im- portance to Mediterranean aquaculture are gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata), sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and flat oysters (Crassostrea gigas). More than half of aquaculture production in the Mediterranean comes from western European countries (58 %), but Greece is a global leader in the production of gilthead sea bream (UNEP/MAP 2012).
To meet the demand for fisheries products, aquaculture in the Mediterranean has expanded from land-based and inshore op-
erations to offshore cage farming (mariculture) (CIESM 2007). For some species, such as sea bass and sea bream, a majority of farms limit their land-based activities to hatcheries, with most of the growth taking place in sea cages.
While aquaculture offers considerable economic benefits, it
can also have an impact on local biodiversity. Particular effects include: organic pollution and eutrophication from waste prod- ucts and uneaten feed (in some cases leading to local hypoxia and anoxia); degradation of benthic habitats under cages, in- cluding valuable sea grass meadows; release of antibiotics and biocides; spread of benthic pathogens; and introduction of non- indigenous species (UNEP/MAP 2009 and CIESM 2007).
Grow-out facilities for tuna warrant special attention for their impact on bluefin tuna and other species. In these operations, schools of tuna are live-trapped by purse seine nets and then fat- tened in cages until they reach marketable size. In 2004, almost 225.000 tonnes of tuna were raised by this method in the Medi- terranean (UNEP/MAP 2009). Since many of the catches are un- declared, there are no accurate figures for the size of the catch. It is estimated that in 2005, 44.000 tonnes were caught, a figure which is 37 % over the legal quota and 77 % above the quota rec- ommended by experts (UNEP/MAP 2009). This practice increases pressures on both wild tuna populations and fish that are caught to feed the penned tuna (e.g., anchovies, mackerel, sardines). It is estimated that it takes 25 kg of fish to produce 1 kg of tuna (UNEP/ MAP 2009). There are also ramifications for human populations de- pendent upon these food fish, most notably in West Africa.
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STATE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENT