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LOOKOUTS OF THE SEA

In 2010, subsequent to some sightings of monk seals in the waters of Marettimo, the Ministry for the Environment granted an extraordinary contribution to the Egadi Islands MPA for the implementation of a project for monitoring and safeguarding the protected species. Resident fishing companies, regularly registered into the Local Maritime Offices of Favignana and Marettimo, have also joined this action, co-financed by the same MPA, by signing a collaboration agreement for a two-year period (2011-2012), then renewed until the first semester of 2013. The activities carried out were the following:

  • timely REPORTING of any sighting of protected species such as monk seal, sea turtles, marine mammals and other species identified with appropriate recognition cards provided by the Managing Body;
  • activity of CONTROL IN SUPPORT OF THE MPA SURVEILLANCE;
  • Adoption of an ETHICAL CODE OF CONDUCT for sustainable fishing;
  • timely REPORTING to the Managing Body any eventual ABUSE or violation of the regulations and laws in force in the marine protected area;
  • Collaboration in RESEARCH ACTIVITIES, upon request of the Managing Body;
  • Participation in initiatives of EXTRAORDINARY CLEANING OF SEABEDS and coasts.

The aforementioned activities are carried out according to a schedule of interventions established by the offices of the Marine Protected Area, with shifts involving in turn all the participants.
In accordance with the agreement, a reimbursement of the expenses for each intervention is paid to the companies working in the project, in proportion with the size of the fishing ships and the regularly boarded crew.