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CAN MARINE PROTECTED Adapting aquaculture in this way could support

AREAS (MPAs) AND sustainable development. Kitty Brayne, head of
BlueVentures conservation programmes pre-
AQUACULTURE CO-EXIST? sented other potential synergies between aqua-
culture and MPAs. The BlueVentures NGO is
committed to working in south-west Madagascar
Another high point of the day was the debates with private aquaculture companies and coastal
on stakes and synergy perspectives between communities. «Our aim is to help them develop
aquaculture and Marine Protected Areas - a rarely subsistence activities which are adapted to the
mentioned topic. Given increased seafood de- environment and culture. This initiative provides
mand and decreasing fish stocks, aquaculture inhabitants with new sources of income, mea-
has, over the past years, gradually developed ning that they have increased access to food and
and become an additional response to fishing. In education whilst reducing the pressure on marine
parallel, weakened marine ecosystems are being resources.»
strengthened with the creation of numerous
Marine Protected Areas. In many regions, the Fishing impacts on the biodiversity in all oceans is
coincidence of this economic activity (aqua- a major concern; compatible marine environment
culture) and conservation actions (MPAs) is gene- alternatives must be found. Throughout the day,
rating legitimate questions. experts also raised more Mediterranean-specific
questions such as developing aquaculture and
For François Simard, Fisheries Assistant Director sustainable fishing and the link between MPAs
and Senior Advisor, International Union for the and climate change. Next year’s Monaco Blue
Conservation of Nature: «Both an improved Initiative will be held in Edinburgh as part of the
vision of real aquaculture impacts and improved University of Edinburgh and the Prince Albert II of
understanding of the importance of MPAs is vital Monaco Foundation partnership.
to developing innovative projects. We must also
understand that there is no easy way to encou-
rage synergies.» Dr Thierry Chopin, Integrated
Multi-Trophic Aquaculture Network Scientific MBI: a thinktank for the ocean
Director from New Brunswick University (Ca-
nada) says that there are innovative, integrated
multi-trophic aquaculture models which closely This thinktank of scientific, economic and political experts was created
resemble MPAs: «This type of aquaculture is
highly adaptable, which means that appropriate in 2010 by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco in collaboration with the
and complementary species can be chosen Oceanographic Institute and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
according to each MPA.»
Monaco Blue Initiative members meet once a year to discuss key ocean
stakes with the aim of anticipating marine environment management and

conservation challenges.