Landscape Ecology Methods for the Placement of Artificial Reef Units in the Gulf of Venice (Italy)

Abstract

ABSTRACT ROSSI, A., BOSCOLO, S., FALCONI, A., BARONI, A and CARAVELLO, G., 2011. Landscape Ecology Methods for the Placement of Artificial Reef Units in the Gulf of Venice (Italy). In: Micallef, A. (ed.), MCRR32010 Conference Proceedings, Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 61, pp. 211–216. Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy, ISSN 0749-0208. The project is aimed to shielding and restoring some peculiar submerged areas, which need to be protected against damage caused by drag-net fishing in the Gulf of Venice. Many submarine outcrops are distributed along Venice's coast in the Northern Adriatic Sea. They are locally called “Tegnue”, relatively to resistance that they offered against trawlers nets. They are “beach rocks” or “reefs”, depending on if they are of clastic or biologic origin. This area is a natural marine oasis where many species can reproduce and live. Our on-going research consists of the analysis of these peculiar parts of the Gulf of Venice sea bottom, with the employment of G.I.S. methodo...