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Mediterranean Bioconstructions Along the Italian Coast 109

These measures, however, protect the sites where important habitats, usu-
ally benthic, are located, focusing just on the patterns of biodiversity
distribution. The EU MSFD, with the definition of Good Environmental
Status, calls for a more holistic approach that considers not only patterns of
biodiversity distribution but also the ecosystem processes that allow for their
presence and well-being. The instruments to achieve this goal are many
(e.g. Maritime Spatial Planning, Integrated Coastal Zone Management, the
Ecosystem Approach, the Networks of MPAs, identification of multi-
parametric indexes evaluating biodiversity and seafloor integrity) and are often
developed with no coordination, thus leading to a vision that is still fragmented.
Boero et al. (2016) provide guidelines to design networks of MPAs in
the Mediterranean and the Black Seas, proposing the consideration of
ecological space as a suite of Cells of Ecosystem Functioning as being com-
pact units of management and conservation, where biodiversity patterns
and ecosystem processes are spatially linked by high levels of connectivity.
Bioconstructions, in this vision, are part of larger ecosystems and must be man-
aged as such. A precondition for effective management, however, requires that
biodiversity patterns are known, along with accurate habitat mapping. Then,
each habitat must be managed and protected via two approaches: a proximate
one, aiming at removing direct human impacts (i.e. MPAs), and an ultimate
one embracing ecosystem processes that have an influence on the managed
systems through connectivity (Networks of MPAs).
Coralligenous formations of any kind are considered as the major exam-
ple of the “reefs” category of the EU Habitats Directive and, as such, should
become SCIs, if they are not already included in nationally designated
MPAs. The long time required for their building (millennia) does not give
hope for their quick recovery if they are destroyed; hence any form of
impact on them should be avoided, with effective regulations of human
activities of any kind. The northern Adriatic mesophotic biogenic habitats,
because of their extent, biodiversity and implications for fisheries and carbon
regulation, have been the status of “Zona di Tutela Biologica” (ZTB) (Zone
of Biological Protection, indeed a regulated no take zone) with a Decree of
the Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies (G.U. n. 193
of 19-8-2002). The increasing awareness of the vulnerability of these
habitats has led to some efforts to protect these habitats with the institution
of SCIs, part of the Natura 2000 network (SCI IT3250047; IT3250048;
IT3330009). However, as these biogenic habitats occur as a patchy network
of biodiversity hot spots, conservation efforts should not be addressed to pro-
tect single reefs, but should preserve a system of connected sink–source sites.