50 MARCH 2013 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG A Sustainability Analysis Method Applied to Cage Aquaculture in the Aegean Sea Michael Chatziefstathiou 1 and Ioannis Spilanis 2 Diversifying Economic Activities on Islands in a Rational Way There is a need for practical, applicable models, guidelines and analytical frameworks that can help decision makers and administrators diversify economic activities, especially on islands. They must be able to direct limited financial resources towards projects or regions where expected returns are greatest. This must be done in a rational way to maximize benefit for inhabitants of the islands and other stakeholders. Marine aquaculture is a competitor for limited resources and this antagonism should be judged on the basis of the efficiency of resource utilization and environmental compatibility. Mariculture today has an important role to play in rural development and in reversing the decline in fishing communities. The method presented here in brief was initially developed by the Laboratory for Local and Insular Development of the Department for Environment of Aegean University and allows estimation of the sustainability level in the Aegean island region and the footprint of activities (driving forces) in the area. This method has been adapted to measure the contribution of marine fish farming to the sustainable development of the region. Sustainable Development of Island Regions Specific characteristics of islands (the “island phenomenon”), a combination of factors, affects their economic development. Sustainability will be greater if development is not dependent on a single activity; the economic risk is reduced and the stress on some natural resources is less important (Spilanis et al. 2005). An aquaculture development plan for an island region must have as an objective the provision of a sound basis for development, while simultaneously conserving the unique environment of the islands for present and future generations. Establishment of fish farms on islands is based on a comparative Overhead view of a net pen farm in the Aegean Sea.
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