Dealing with the problem of eutrophication in the Adriatic Basin: the institutional framework and policies

Abstract

The process of eutrophication in the Adriatic Sea Basin has emerged over recent decades as a problem that demands special consideration and treatment; one of the most important reasons is the damage to the economy due to its undesired effects. Scientific knowledge concerning this process, while not exhaustive, is sufficient as a basis for directing action. But the experience acquired to date demonstrates that scientific knowledge alone cannot steer practical action, assuring the use of all existing (limited) knowledge to define the best practicable actions in a given time and place. In other terms, the institutional framework has not been able to use this knowledge for improving the environmental state of the Basin. To overcome this unsatisfactory situation, a different definition of the problem is proposed, as well as a different way for designing suitable solutions.