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Aquaculture is an increasingly important food-producing sector, providing protein for human consumption. However, marine aquaculture often struggles for space due to the crowded nature of human activities in many marine coastal areas, and because of limited attention from spatial planning managers. Here, we assess the need for coastal spatial planning, emphasising the establishment of suitable areas for the development of marine aquaculture, termed Allocated Zones for Aquaculture (AZAs), in which aquaculture has secured use and priority over other activities, and where potential adverse environmental impacts and negative interactions with other users are minimised or avoided. We review existing examples of marine aquaculture spatial development worldwide and discuss the proper use of site selection in relation to different legal and regulatory requirements. National or regional authorities in charge of coastal zone management should carry out spatial planning defining optimal sites for aquaculture to promote development of sustainable marine aquaculture and avoid conflict with other users, following a participatory approach and adhering to the principles of ecosystem-based management.

In recent years, Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is being observed to increasingly and more frequently aggregate around Mediterranean offshore fish farms. In the present work, potential interactions between aggregations of this important pelagic species and offshore fish farms and local fisheries were assessed through a questionnaire survey aimed at fish farmers, divers and stakeholders in the Mediterranean. Since the interactions may have implications for aquaculture and marine ecology, enhanced management strategies for the conservation of endangered Mediterranean stocks of Atlantic Bluefin tuna, as well as for sustainable development of aquaculture and fishery activities are discussed.

SUMMARY: We investigated the applicability of the Pearson–Rosenberg (P–R) conceptual model describing a generalized pattern of response of benthic communities in relation to organic enrichment to Mediterranean Sea coastal lagoons. Consistent with P–R model predictions, benthic diversity and abundance showed two different peaks at low (>2.5–5 mg g1) and high (>25–30 mg g1) total organic carbon (TOC) ranges, respectively. We identified TOC thresholds indicating that risks of reduced benthic diversity should be relatively low at TOC values < about 10 mg g1, high at TOC values > about 28 mg g1, and intermediate at values in-between. Predictive ability within these ranges was high based on results of re-sampling simulation. While not a direct measure of causality, it is anticipated that these TOC thresholds should serve as a general screening-level indicator for evaluating the likelihood of reduced sediment quality and associated bioeffects in such eutrophic systems of the Mediterranean Sea.