Good practice:

Eco and User-Frendly and Efficient Fish Barrier Traps in Mediterranean Lagoon

Coastal Lagoons are under of NATURA 2000 nut protection about the biodiversity. In order to surpass this issue, a collaboration between the Agriculture & Fisheries Cooperative of Mesolonghi “The Regeneration”, universities under the public support direct to the development of a new innovative flexible barrier trap system. In this trap, technically, is allowed the easy regulation of the mesh size and facilitates the escape of undersize individuals while increase the catches of marketable sizes. The selective capture of the suitable size marketable fish escapes the undersized fish and minimises the losses. This good practice enhances the fishers’ income and provides ecosystem sustainability by protecting young fish that otherwise could be destroyed. Their function philosophy based on:
- to be user friendly
- to be eco-friendly and
- to offers higher economic performance
The method of exploitation must be in line with biodiversity conservation policies and fisheries welfare.

The project cost for construction/management of new barrier trap was 232,380.00€. It was funded by the Ministry of Agriculture Development & Food (EU Fisheries O.P. 2007-2013. Measure 3.5 ”Pilot Plans”). The adoption by other lagoon exploiters as an investment was about 5-10% of initial project cost

The innovation adoption assists to avoid losses of undersized fish and improves the survival of the next generation fish stocks. This significant enhance the farmed livestock capital and increase the productivity and the harvesting crops with a minimal investment.

The technology of the new barrier trap has a simple construction and is easily transferred to other lagoons especially in Mediterranean eco-regions. The innovation adoption has direct benefits with a minimal investment cost. Already, in many Greek lagoons the traditional barrier traps have been replaced by the new.