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When describing the conflicts, it may worth exploring the influence of driving forces, i.e. key trends
that are influencing conflicts, which may include:
• Changes in regulatory or administrative environments, which promote or restrict a particular
type of marine space use, including strategic sectoral obligations, e.g. 20% of energy from
renewables by 2020.
• Changes in market conditions, which affect (positively or negatively) a particular type of
marine space use;
• Cultural changes, shifts in public perception, etc which support or hinder the development of a
particular sector.
From the results of the interviews it is clear that nowadays more knowledge is available
through mass media, and people can participate in discussions and have their opinion
expressed. Research still has a very modest role in the public perception because the MPA
managers have involved researchers only rarely in the management or in decision support.
Some interviewees feel that research bodies (which are locally represented by the universities
of Palermo and Trapani and by C.N.R.) should be strongly involved and that the MPA would
benefit from scientific support.

4 Governance approach and effectiveness
The complex spatial, legislative and management system of the Egadi archipelago
The Egadi MPA and Natura 2000 sites (SPAs and SCIs, there are no SACs (Special Area of
Conservation) yet) are almost completely overlapped and “spatially nested” in the Trapani LFMP (Fig.
3). All these initiatives fall in the areas of two National Fisheries Management Plans (NFMP: GSA 16
and Sicily) but they are managed under different legal frameworks.
From a legislative point of view, the Egadi MPA is regulated - like all other Italian MPAs - under two
acts (no. 979/1982 and no. 394/1991) and is under the control of the Ministry of the Environment that
delegates responsibility for management.
Egadi SPAs and SCIs are regulated by the EU Bird and Habitat directives, are included in the Natura
2000 network and their designation in Italy is delegated to the regions. Their management can be
delegated to local institutions or NGOs.
The Egadi MPA and Natura 2000 sites (SPAs, SCIs) aim at the maintenance or restoration to a
favourable conservation status of natural habitats and of biological diversity in the area. However, one
of the objectives of Natura 2000 is also to take into account the economic, social and cultural
requirements and regional and local characteristics.
The activities in the Natura 2000 sites of the Egadi Islands are regulated by a management plan whose
beneficiary is the Regional Province of Trapani.
The current MPA management body is the Municipality of Favignana but the MPA is managed by a
director helped by an advisory committee. The use of the MPA is disciplined by a regulation approved
by the Ministry of the Environment but no management plan still exists.
The NFMP and the LFMP refer to the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), to the Green paper reform of
the CFP, and to the European Fisheries Fund (EFF). The NFMP is under the responsibility of the
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests (that includes also fisheries) while the LFMP is
administratively linked to the Sicilian Department of Fisheries but it is managed by the Co.Ge.Pa.
(Consortium for the Management of Artisanal Fisheries) of Trapani.
Local and national management plans are already enforced with the general objectives of preserving
the stock turnover capacity, protecting fish essential habitats and enhancing the economy of the
fishery workers through the increase of job opportunities in fishery-dependent areas.

In this complex system, the confusing and ineffective governance of the Egadi archipelago is the
results of a mixed approach that is discussed hereafter.

• a top-down approach (relying on government power and regulation), or

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