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Research &

development

Underwater itineraries at Egadi Islands:

Marine biodiversity protection through

actions for sustainable tourism

Sustainable tourism is recognized as a high priority for environmental and biological conservation. Promoting
protection of local biological and environmental resources is a useful action for conservation of marine biodiversity
in Marine Protected Areas and for stimulating awareness among residents and visitors. The publication of two
books dedicated to the description of 28 selected underwater itineraries, for divers and snorkelers, and a website
with underwater videos represent concrete actions by ENEA for the promotion of sustainable tourism at the Marine
Protected Area of Egadi Islands (Sicily, Italy). 177 species were recorded at Favignana, and around the same
number at Marettimo and Levanzo islands: among those species, some of them are important for conservation and
protection (e.g. Astrospartus mediterraneus), some of them are rare (i.e. Anthipatella subpinnata) and with a high
aesthetic value (e.g. Paramuricea clavata, Savalia savaglia), while others are invasive (e.g. Caulerpa cylindracea)

DOI 10.12910/EAI2015-072

n S. Cocito, I. Delbono, M. Barsanti, G. Di Nallo, C. Lombardi, A. Peirano

Introduction

Sustainable tourism represents an important reason tourism (http://egadi.santateresa.enea.it/). The MPA was
for promoting historical, cultural and environmental originally established by the Italian Government in 1991
features of countries where those features are not and then its management transferred from the Ministry
promoted and popularized enough. This situation of Environment to Favignana municipality in 2001. In
typically occurs in Italy and especially in remote areas, recent years, the MPA has realized important actions
such as small islands, which suffer high pressures acting on conservation and promotion of the coastal marine
on vulnerable terrestrial and marine environments, environment, with particular attention to environmental
usually caused by a mass and aggressive tourism for education, research and promotion of sustainable
limited periods of the year. Seasonal anthropogenic development for all economic local activities.
pressures due to beach resort activities, illegal practise The main tool for conservation of marine biodiversity
of professional and sport fisheries, and domestic is to promote the importance of protection of local
pollution as consequence of urbanization are all factors biological and environmental resources so that
affecting marine ecosystems and thus threatening there is co-operation from all users in preventing or
biological resources.
The Marine Protected Area (MPA) of Egadi Islands,
including Favignana, Marettimo and Levanzo islands, is
the target area for ENEA project “Ecoinnovazione Sicilia”, Contact person: Ivana Delbono
funded by the Italian financial act in 2010, which aimed ivana.delbono@enea.it
to define specific actions for promoting sustainable

EAI Energia, Ambiente e Innovazione 4/2015
69