Enrico Cabras Tel Aviv sept. 2017 Attraction at Sea TAIEX

A.R.P.A.V.
Enrico Cabras – enrico.cabras@arpa.veneto.it
Agenzia - Agency
Regionale - Regional
Prevenzione - Prevention
Protezione - Protection
Ambientale - Environmental
Veneto - Veneto

A.R.P.A.V.
Regional Envrionmental Prevention and Protection Agency of Veneto
www.arpa.veneto.it

North East of Italy
Veneto

A.R.P.A.V.

A.R.P.A.V. General Management is in Padova
7 districts: Venezia, Verona, Padova, Treviso, Belluno and Rovigo.
In each district there is a technical structure for the monitoring activities. This is because each district
has its own geographical and economic peculiarities.
For example:
• the alpine environment of the province of Belluno has very few features in common with the
environment of the delta of a large lowland river in the province of Rovigo;
• the environment of the lagoon and the sea coast of the province of Venice has little in common with the
typical flood plain environment of the province of Vicenza.

A.R.P.A.V.
2 general departments operating throughout the Veneto Region:
• Department for territorial safety: Weather service, Snow and avalanche service, Hydrological service
(quantitative measures);
• Laboratory department.

ATTRACTIONS AT SEA

ATTRACTIONS AT SEA:
There are so many things that can attract a tourist to
the sea.
Among all these things, the ones I prefer and that I
would like to present to you are represented by the
direct observation of the sea life.

Two different
ATTRACTIONS AT SEA

Tethys Research InstituteMilan
– Italy
www.tethys.org

A non-profit research organization supporting marine
conservation through science and public awareness
with a focus on large marine vertebrates.
Tethys Research Institute

The mission is the conservation of the marine
environment and its biodiversity, by supporting national
and international marine conservation policies and
process with robust scientific knowledge, as well as by
developing, promoting and implementing public
awareness and education activities.

Since 1986 they are committed to
preserve marine environment through
the provision of scientific knowledge.

Striving to increase scientific knowledge on ecological
aspects of the marine environment, and on the threats
to ocean health deriving from human activities, is the
core business of the Tethys Research Institute.

• Conservation
• Research
• Public Awarness
• Tourism

Watching whales and dolphins in their natural
environment.
Tethys runs two long-term projects which are open
to the participation of the public: one in Italy, in the
north western part of the Mediterranean, and one
in Greece, in the Eastern Ionian Sea.

A kind of tourism developed to aid scientific research in
a direct way.

Volunteers, they are
common people not
necessarily researchers,
pay a fee to participate in
research sessions and help
researchers directly on the
field.

Citizen Science

Citizen Science
is a new way to conceive research by
involving amateur or non-specialized people, a
concept that is yielding results in many branches, from
astronomy to biochemistry.

Citizen Science
is a recent term, but had already been applied more
than a century ago:
the first example seems to be dated back to 1900, when
the National Audubon Society (USA), each christmas
time, invited common people to contributed to the
Christmas Bird count activity.

Throughout its 30+ years of existence Tethys has
invited the public to assist researchers in their
fieldwork.
No previous experience is requested.
Tethys Research Institute – Cetacean Santuary Project

CETACEAN SANCTUARY RESEARCH
The Cetacean Sanctuary Project (CSR) takes place in
the Ligurian Sea, NW Mediterranean, between Italy
and France, within the protected area known
as Pelagos Sanctuary for whales and dolphins.

The study area:

The study area:
The Pelagos Sanctuary extends about 90.000 km2 in the
north-western Mediterranean Sea between Italy, France
and the Island of Sardinia, encompassing Corsica and the
Tuscany Archipelago; in 1999 it has been established by
three nations, Italy, France and the Principality of Monaco,
becoming the first high-seas and the first supra-national
protected area in the world.

The study area:
Although cetaceans are formally protected in the
Sanctuary, whales and dolphins continue to face many
threats, from chemical and noise pollution, to collisions
with fast ferries, to entanglement in fishing nets; from
shortage of food due to overfishing and to global climate
changes.
The Cetacean Sanctuary Project has been collecting the
largest dataset of its kind, over the longest timespan,
which represents a sound baseline for the conservation of
cetaceans and their environment in this precious area of
the Mediterranean.

The study area:
The Sanctuary is home to eight cetacean species, all
those regularly living in the Mediterranean, in higher
numbers than in the contiguous areas. Among those are
large whales such as fin and sperm whales, several
species of dolphins and other toothed whales, and many
other large vertebrates such as turtles, devil rays, sea
birds, tuna and swordfish.

The accommodation is on board a 58 ft. matorsailer:
“Pelagos”.

There are 25 cruises/year,
from May to September.
Every cruise is 6 days long.

The cetaceans
Fin whale
(Balaenoptera physalus)

The cetaceans
Pilot whale
(Globicephala melas)

The cetaceans
Striped dolphin
(Stenella coeruleoalba)

Tethys Research Institute – Ionian Dolphin Project
The IDP study area

IONIAN DOLPHIN PROJECT – Target species
Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
Bottlenose dolphins, the most coastal cetacean species in the Mediterranean
Sea, have been negatively affected in numerous ways by human activities.
Until the 1960s, they have been one of the main targets of culling campaigns,
resulting in thousands of animals killed. In recent times, incidental mortality in
fishing gear, prey depletion caused by overfishing, habitat degradation, boat
traffic noise, and health effects caused by pollution are important threats.
Mediterranean bottlenose dolphins have been proposed for classification as
Vulnerable in a recent Red List assessment by IUCN.

Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

IONIAN DOLPHIN PROJECT – Target species
Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)
Once one of the most abundant cetacean species in the Mediterranean Sea,
common dolphins have declined throughout the region since the 1960s. In
2003 their Mediterranean population was classified as Endangered in the
IUCN Red List. In 2006 they have been included in Appendix I and II of the
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (Bonn Convention –
CMS). The causes of their generalized decline include prey depletion by
overfishing and incidental mortality in fishing gear.

Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)

Every day on board or at the
base, research and typically
recreational activities blend
together

Without limiting the quality
of the scientific data
collected or the quality of
the touristic offer.

• Almost 6500 people have been welcomed in 30 years of
activity.
• Among these, sometimes, there were future researchers.
• Volunteers come from all over the world.
• Volunteers pay for a tourist service and thus funding
scientific research.

Annual revenues are approximately 200,000 euros in total.
This figure is just enough to keep the two research projects
and central administration alive.
It is not easy to secure a salary for the various researchers
or administrative staff.
You must always be looking for a sponsor (for example to
get an outboard engine and to get a professional
photographic kit).

Over 500 scientific publications have seen the light in this
period, in collaboration with the most prestigious
international institutions.

Key words:
• Cetaceans;
• Mediterranean Sea;
• Citizen Science;
• Scientific research;
• Conscious tourism.

TEGNÙE

Tegnùe
For centuries, the venetian fishermen have known the
existence of narrow zones, spread to different depths and in
different areas, where the bottom of the sea, normally
muddy or sandy, has a rocky and hard stretch, at which the
fishing nets were impelled and often lost.

Tegnùe
These areas were feared, by
the majority of fishermen, for
the damage they could bring to
their equipment

Tegnùe
Those few fishermen who had discovered these areas were
jealous of their discovery and keep this secret because near
to these areas they could fish for species not abundant in
the North Adriatic Sea.

Tegnùe
Only in 1966 Stefanon reports the
discovery of narrow areas
characterized by rocky backdrop
of particular nature, so to name
them, similarly to similar
structures found in the waters of
California, "beachrock" (Stefanon,
1966).

Tegnùe

Tegnùe
The spatial distribution
of the different sites.

Tegnùe
Organogenous rocks are
produced by the action of
algae and animal whose
calcareous skeleton stratifying
in order to create thickness
structures.

Tegnùe
The presence of "islands" of
solid substrates in the
homogeneous sandy/muddy
sediment lays creates, albeit
locally, areas rich in micro-
environments and ecological
gradients that foster greater
diversity in the populations.

Tegnùe
An "oasis" of extreme biological
wealth, with an increase in the
number of species, but also with
a significant biomass per unit of
surface. Such areas are also
extremely favorable for the
laying of eggs, larvae or any
other forms of reproduction that
require a solid anchorage.

Tegnùe
Normally the seabed of the west side of northern Adriatic
Sea, is not very crowded from underwater sightseeing
points.

Tegnùe
On the other hand diving tourism is very much alive. There
are an increasing number of diving schools and diving
associations. Until a few years ago, however, these
enthusiasts of the underwater world were faced with long
journeys and major expense to enjoy beautiful underwater
scenery.

Tegnùe
In recent years, a form of sustainable tourism is being
developed to visit these small rocky outcrops.

Tegnùe
We are still at the beginning of this experience and we can
still try to develop a responsible tourism model.
Using a series of tools such as:
• distribution information articles;
• lessons for divers;
• setting up codes of conduct for divers;
• strengthen the education and awareness of the divers
(especially beginners) and instructors.

Tegnùe
Increasing the knowledge of protected sites and
marine areas: theirs history, the algae and animal
species, coral biology and marine ecology.

Tegnùe
Tegnùe ecosystem can represent a tourism development
engine (especially divers tourism) in the North Adriatic Sea.
(Meneghello, 2017)
From:
http://tegnue.chioggia.org

Tegnùe
At the end of this path we can also ask the diving tourist to
collaborate on environmental monitoring of these sea
attractions. (Mingotto, 2017)

Tegnùe
But is it possible to estimate the economic value of the
resulting benefits by improving the Tegnùe ecosystem?
• People are interested in the improvements of marine
biodiversity? And are they willing to pay for this
improvement?
• What are the main factors that determine the propensity
to contribute to the improvement of the biodiversity?
(Tonin et al., 2014)

Tegnùe
To achieve this objective, a contingent valuation
questionnaire, a valuation method of the non-market
valuation technique family, has been prepared to allow it to
directly estimate the value of an asset that generally does
not have a market price as most of natural resources.

Tegnùe
• It is a method based on surveys (method of declared
preferences);
• They try to figure out what is the willingness to pay to
improve biodiversity in the ecosystem of the hills of the
North Adriatic;
• Estimate the intrinsic value of biodiversity, i.e.
components not directly related to direct use or to
consumption.

Tegnùe
It was asked, with a questionnaire, to choose whether they
agreed to contribute with a certain number, randomly
selected within a payment carrier (€ 2,00, 5,00, 10,00,
15,00, 20 , 00; 30,00; 40,00; 50,00; 70,00; 100,00), and to
pay it in a single solution, to the realization of environmental
restoration activities in these strange North Adriatic
ecosystems.

Tegnùe (Tonin et al., 2014)

Tegnùe
Considering the average payout availability we get a WTP
of € 19.90 for family for the Veneto region sample. This
value was then used to calculate the total benefits deriving
from the biodiversity restoration activity in the North Adriatic
sea.

Tegnùe
Considering a number of 2.057.227 families, living
continuously in Veneto, for a 3-year period (duration of the
research project), it was calculated the total of:
• € 82.318.242 Benefits from WTP;
• € 329.092 Costs;
• The benefit-cost ratio is 250,1

Tegnùe
Conclusions
• People who wants a marine biodiversity health improve in
coralligenous environment are also willing to contribute
paying money to achieve this goal;
• Knowledge of marine biodiversity in coralligenous and in
tegnùe determines higher WTPs;
• It is necessary to improve the common people knowledge in
order to obtain a higher WTP. Policy makers must know this
aspect!
(Tonin 2014)

Attractions at sea
We are used to living in a heavily transformed environment
in our cities, we are struggling to feel involved when we hear
about natural resources, areas of environmental value,
especially if they are properly located in our daily reality,
hidden below the sea surface. The only way we have to
regain the sense of belonging to the Nature is to try to
approach it, study it, and know it better, with an absolute
respect.

Attractions at sea
Pochi possono dare del tu al mare ma quei pochi non lo
fanno…
Few people can afford to be confident with the sea but
those few do not…
(Old fishing people proverb)

References
Stefanon A., First notes on the dicovery of outcrops of beach rock in the Gulf of Venice (Italy).XX Congrès-
Assemblée Plenière de la C.I.E.S.M.M. in: Rapp. Comm. int. Mer. Médit. 19,(4): 648-649, 1966.
Meneghello, S., Forme di fruizione sostenibile delle attrattive naturalistiche nella costa veneziana
Considerazioni sulle potenzialità di sviluppo del diving tourism, Progetto Tegnùe Follow – Up
Workshop 13 – 27 giugno 2017, Chioggia, Museo Civico della Laguna Sud.
Mingotto, E., Il turismo responsabile: profili di domanda e buone pratiche nell'offerta turistica
Il caso del turismo subacqueo, Progetto Tegnùe Follow – Up Workshop 13 – 27 giugno 2017, Chioggia,
Museo Civico della Laguna Sud.
Tonin, S., Lucaroni, G., Turvani, M., Fregolent, L., Il valore economico del miglioramento della biodiversità
nelle Tegnùe L.I.F.E. Project – GHOST Project-
ARPAV, Museo di Storia Naturale di Venezia, Le tegnùe dell’Alto Adriatico: Valorizzazione della risorsa marina
attraverso lo studio di aree di pregio ambientale. www.arpa.veneto.it – www.msn.ve.it 2010.

References
• AA.VV. in Life 12/BIO/IT/000556 Action E1, Final Draft, GHOST Project, 2016. www.life-host.eu

Attractions at sea
Thanks to:
Tethys Research Institute – www.tethys.org
Environmental Protection Agency of Veneto –
www.arpa.Veneto.it
Venice Museum of Natural History. www.msn.ve.it

Enrico Cabras Tel Aviv sept. 2017 Attraction at Sea TAIEX

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