Good practice:

Fishing tourism regional law n. 23 5/6/2012

Fishing tourism („pesca tourism”) involves fishing sharing the culture with local fishermen, as well as learning the traditions and lifestyle.It is partly a sub set of the marine eco-tourism and special interest tourism sector. It emphasises external recreational purposes. The activities involved in fishing tourism are generally conducted by professional fisherman who use well equipped vessels needed for fishing and maintain overall safety and hygiene.
The Law regulated for the first time in Italy (but also in Europe) activities related to the sea, such as tourism and fishing tourism, with the favorable opinions from regional operators in the fishing world. The legislation, in fact, besides providing the possibility for tourists to be guests of the boats, also allows the creation of refreshment points on the ground, with the concrete possibility of enhancing local traditions.
The Law set the operational bases to allow the implementation of important activities of diversification of fishing activities and integration of fishermen's incomes including Fishing Tourism and the so-called "Hospitality on board during the ordinary exercise of Fishing", which allow to host on board subjects other than crew, for mere purposes of observation and knowledge of fishing methods, during the ordinary course of fishing activities with the systems authorized by the license held.
The consultation process involved mainly private actors such fishermen, being the law addressed to them.

The intervention does not foresee costs. The only resources used consists of staff resources for consultation among actors and stakeholders and process monitoring.

Since 2012 n. 7 authorizations have been granted and this can be considered a success for the regional context.

Fishing tourism is often carried out for few months: this creates temporary opportunities for the fishermen and for this it is difficult to find crew members. Unrestrained development along the coastline can lead to pollution of waters, which can directly affect the fishing industry and tourism.

The relevance of this law has been demonstrated by the high interest shown by regional stakeholders in the consultation process to draw the law itself. This law pros are:
- fishermen get complementary income due to fishing tourism from which their families’ social life may benefit and they get acquainted with new skills due to promotion programmes undertaken to exercise fishing tourism;
- Fishing tourism can be carried out in lakes, rivers and seas;
- Fishing tourism can contribute to the economy of a region;
- Promotion of lesser known fish is, which can increase their consumption thereby bringing in more income;
- The urban population/tourists can learn many aspects about life in coastal areas, the local ways of living and surviving, the different styles of cooking, etc.;
- The extra income can help fishermen preserve the culture and reinforce the appeal of this sector for future generations;
- Awareness regarding sustainable fishing.