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Adriatic-Ionian Macroregion

Strategic research lines

1. The promotion and development of the fishery sector in the Adriatic Ionian macroregion
Contact person: Andrea Caligiuri, andrea.caligiuri@unimc.it, Federico Niccolini, federico.niccolini@unimc.it

Macro objectives:

1)      Conservation and improvement of fish stocks in the area in question

2)      Contribution to sustainable socioeconomic development, in particular small businesses and local employment (small fisheries, recreational activities, and restaurant activities)

3) Contribution to quality improvement, differentiation and deseasonalisation of the tourism proposals

Object of study and intervention

The project aims to study:

  • The regulations relative to the use and protection of fisheries resources (National legislation and International agreements), with particular reference to those present in protected marine areas;
  • The systems and models of governance and management in the use and protection of fisheries resources;
  • The so-called “fishing supply chain”, with particular reference to the networks and supply chains that are active from time fish is caught to the moment it is consumed. Particular attention will be paid to the study of know-how and traditional cultures associated with the use and enogastronomical valuing of fishing resources, as well as productions with an elevated added value.
  • The forms and dynamics of sustainable tourism, associated with observation (e.g. scuba diving, snorkelling) or regulated fishing (recreational fishing) of ichthyic fauna
  • The study also involves the identification of experiences and cases of excellence in the regulation, management and valuing of the sustainable fishing supply chain, with a particular focus on semi-closed seas.

Main project output:

1)   Identification of innovative regulation, management and development systems of the fishing supply chain that are applicable to the context of reference, with the aim of bringing about the effective application of the principles of the Common Fishing Policy (a particular focus will be put on the systems of protected national and international marine areas).

2)  Definition of the drafting methods of multiannual fishery management plans for the Adriatic and Ionian seas.

3)   Identification of the key socio-economic players on which to act, directing the fisheries supply chain in terms of sustainability, financial viability and competitiveness.

4)   Definition of innovative traceability methods for fisheries products and drafting of the regulation framework of reference, including international cooperation methods between administrative organisations.

5)  Definition of a “brand” for products and services of the fisheries supply chain, to be used as a tool for diversifying and improving the tourism proposal within the framework of the macroregion

6) Insertion of observation sites or recreational fishing sites within tourist routes (scuba diving overview)

7)   Identification of communication and collective awareness strategies on the sustainable use of fisheries resources (education on the consumption of local fish).


2. Promotion and valuing of the cultural heritage of the Adriatic Ionian macroregion
Contact person: Francesca Coltrinari, francesca.coltrinari@unimc.it

Objectives

  1. Increase in the appeal of the Macro region;
  2. Valuing of cultural heritage and innovation of cultural offer;
  3. Deconcentration of tourism flows in terms of space and time:
    a) deseasonalisation;
    b) increase of tourism in internal and/or peripheral areas, with respect to traditional tourism circuits;
  4. Cooperation between public and private individuals in the tourism-cultural sector, also through universities acting as DMOs;
  5. Integration between production supply chains (culture, environment, tourism, food and wine);
  6. Socio-economic development and an increase in employment in internal and / or peripheral areas.

Best Practices

Identification of experience and examples of excellence in the regulation, management and development of the tourism supply chain, with a special focus on valuing cultural heritage.

Setup of interventions on a macro-regional scale with a logic of integrated planning, aimed at economic development through small and medium sized companies, and associated with the use of new technologies for valuing archaeological and cultural assets.

Project output

1)      Identification of innovative systems of tourism regulation and management that are applicable to the context of reference, with particular reference to promoting archaeological and cultural heritage (networks, systems, districts);

2)      Drafting of the regulatory framework of reference, including international cooperation methods between the various administrative organisations;

3)      Identification of strategies through which to convey cultural heritage and informative tools and contents;

4)      Definition of a “brand” for the products and services of the tourism-cultural supply chain to be used as a tool for diversifying and improving the tourism offer within the framework of the macroregion;

5)      Exchange of advanced cultural district models, valuing the role of the universities and their spin—offs with the role of DMO - Destination Management Organization, and beginning from a project to coordinate the international flow of students / visiting professors.

6)      Increase in cooperation between universities, with the aim of creating specialised training courses associated with research, protection and management of tourism cultural heritage, in collaboration with other public and private institutes.

7)   Activate and strengthen cooperation between entrepreneurs through the set up of start-ups and the sale of products, especially in the edutainment sector (apps, games…).


3. The energy governance of the Adriatic-Ionian region
Contact persons: Andrea Caligiuri, andrea.caligiuri@unimc.it, Andrea Prontera, andrea.prontera@unimc.it

The Adriatic-Ionian region plays a role of primary importance in the energy security of the entire European Union. This is especially valid as regards the diversification of supplies and the construction of trans-European energy networks (e.g. The Southern Gas Corridor); the expansion of the European Energy market (e.g. within the framework of the principles of the Energy Charter Treaty); and the sustainable development of conventional sources (such as the petrol reserves present in the Adriatic) and the new generation of renewable Energy resources (e.g. offshore wind farms).

The recent launch of the “EU strategy for the Adriatic Ionian Region” by the European institutes, in which Energy issues play a primary role (see Pillar 2 – Connecting the Region; 2.3. Energy Networks) has further confirmed and reinforced the crucial part to be played by this region. Nevertheless, EUSAIR is only the last example of a complex system of organisms, policies and strategies created to promote cooperation between the States of the region, on a governmental, local or private level, which has to be supported by the policies and programmes drawn up by individual national governments.

Beginning from this quite articulate governance framework, which has not succeed in eliminating the fragmentation of the Energy market in the region, the research line aims to attain two main objectives.

Firstly, researchers are committed to analysing the architecture of governance created in the Adriatic Ionian region and assessing is potential and its limits in stimulating the sustainable development of energy infrastructures and in creating an efficient energy market on a regional basis. In particular, research is concentrated on the identification of cooperation routes that might encourage a better connection of the renewable energy plants on the one hand and the use of more efficient technologies on the other hand, that might limit the risks for the environment associated with transport and transmission of energy and on the other hand that might promote the sustainability of energy supply, through the use of renewable sources. Furthermore, researchers try to identify the most efficient and effective forms of protecting the environment paying particular attention to the marine ecosystem, in relation to the development of offshore activities.

The second objective that we intend to pursue is to define a model of upstream governance, through an analysis of the transformations in policies and legal regimes relative to the sustainable development of conventional resources such as petrol and gas. As far as the attainment of this objective is concerned, research is concentrated on certain important aspects of the operational process of upstream: the acquisition of mining titles / exploitation rights / exploration (geological research and seismological research, drilling); development (set up of extraction sites for reserves), and production (extraction for commercial purposes). There is a particular focus on the Italian case, although it is analysed within the most wide-ranging regional perspective.